This report highlights the impact of substance use on the health and well-being of Yukoners. People from all corners of society can experience substance-related harms, ranging from acute alcohol intoxication to a chronic condition like liver cirrhosis or drug toxicity death from unregulated drugs.
Harm and death due to substance use are preventable. The numbers in this report are not just statistics; they represent the lives of Yukoners.
This report offers data on health-related harms from substance use in the Yukon and can be used to guide public health decisions. It helps to:
The report presents data from:
Some data are reported quarterly and others annually, offering different perspectives on trends. This report includes crude rates, which account for the Yukon’s population size and allow for comparison to other jurisdictions (see data notes for more information on rates). It also provides as well as raw counts, showing the total number of cases or incidents to illustrate the scale of the issue. In some cases, national comparisons were used to measure how the Yukon compares to broader Canadian trends.
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data in this report on drug- and alcohol-related responses are collected by paid paramedics using an electronic patient care reporting form. Volunteer paramedics in the Yukon do not currently use this system, so calls they attended are not included in this report.
The locations and hours of paid paramedics are:
- Whitehorse: 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
- Watson Lake: 7 days a week, 8:30am to 6:30pm
- Dawson City: Mon to Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm
EMS responses in communities other than Whitehorse, Watson Lake, and Dawson City are not captured in this report.
This graph shows the crude rate per 100,000 for paramedic-attended responses to substance-related incidents. This captures any events coded for drug poisoning or overdose, along with acute alcohol intoxication or withdrawal.
Alcohol-related incidents account for the majority of EMS responses for substance use, though the annual rate has been steadily declining since its peak in 2020. Although the observed rate of drug poisoning responses has decreased since 2021, it remains notably higher than in 2019.
Figure 2 provides the same information as Figure 1, but on a quarterly basis.
Paramedic responses to alcohol-related incidents show a seasonal trend, with higher rates during the summer months.
In contrast, paramedic responses to drug poisoning events do not foloow any specific pattern. Although drug poisoning events have declined slightly from 2021 to 2023, the rate in 2023 remained higher than in 2019.
Figure 3 features a bar chart with monthly counts, with a LOESS trend line (see data notes for more information on LOESS).
Paramedic-attended alcohol-related responses show a seasonal trend of higher volumes during the summer months. The LOESS trend line also shows the observed annual rate steadily declining since a peak in 2020.
Figure 4 provides information on paramedic-attended drug- and alcohol-related incidents. Crude rates are provided for alcohol and drug poisoning by age groups and sex (see drop-down menu to toggle between age and sex graphs).
It shows that individuals aged 20-29, 30-39 and 40-49 have the highest rates of paramedic responses to drug poisoning, with these age groups being the most affected since 2019. Men have consistently shown higher rates than women, though this gap appeared to narrow in 2023.
From 2019 to 2022, alcohol-related responses were most common among those aged 50-59. However, by 2023, the highest rate shifted to the 30-39 age group. Similar to drug poisoning cases, men continued to have higher rates than women.
Pickup location - drug poisoning | Count (n) | Percent (%) |
---|---|---|
Residence | 630 | 40.2 |
405 Alexander | 353 | 22.5 |
Street/Highway/Road | 190 | 12.1 |
Hotel | 101 | 6.4 |
Hospital (Acute & Non-Acute) | 43 | 2.7 |
Airport/Heliport | 33 | 2.1 |
Correctional facility | 27 | 1.7 |
Medical office/Clinic/Nursing outpost | 23 | 1.5 |
School/College/University | 19 | 1.2 |
Restaurant/Bar | 17 | 1.1 |
Single Store/Strip Mall | 16 | 1.0 |
Note: Percentages less than 1 have not been displayed in this
table.
Hospital emergency department (ED) data are drawn from the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS). NACRS is a national database designed to capture demographic, administrative, clinical and service-specific data from across Canada. Information about each visit is collected at the time of service at the Whitehorse General Hospital, Dawson City Community Hospital, and Watson Lake Community Hospital.
Figure 11 shows the proportion of frequent visitors (with at least 4 visits a year) among those who visit an emergency department (ED) for help with mental health and/or substance use. Frequent visits may strain already busy EDs.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) notes that frequent visits to emergency departments may be an indication that people are not getting access to the services or the support they need for help with mental health and substance use.
For more information on this indicator, see CIHI’s website
Figure 12 provides information on individuals who presented to the emergency department having used an opioid and/or a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.
From 2019 to 2023, there were a total of 262 visits that involved an opioid. Within these visits, 21 people (8%) who had opioids in their system also had a CNS depressant present.
There were also a total of 95 visits that involved a CNS depressant. Within these visits, 21 people (22%) who had a CNS depressant in their system, also had an opioid present.
Opioids and CNS depressants (such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or alcohol) have compounding effects on respiratory depression, increasing the risk of drug poisoning. ED visits involving both types of drugs may reflect more severe poisonings, as this combination can lead to life-threatening conditions. Understanding the prevalence of these combinations can guide communication and inform medical management strategies.
Figure 13 provides information on the individuals who present to the emergency department, having used an opioid and/or a stimulant.
From 2019 to 2023, there were a total of 262 visits that involved an opioid. Within these visits, 47 people (18%) who had opioids in their system also had a stimulant.
There were also a total of 105 visits that involved a stimulant. Within these visits, 47 people (45%) who had a stimulant in their system, also had an opioid present.
While these figures show the drug combinations in individuals who visited the ED for drug poisoning, it remains unknown whether these drugs were intentionally used together or not.
Whether there is a change in the pharmacological makeup of drugs or people are choosing to use multiple substances, understanding the specific drugs involved is crucial for tailoring interventions and determining appropriate responses, such as the use of naloxone.2
Hospital admission data in this report are sourced from the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), a national database that captures administrative, clinical, and demographic information on hospital discharges across Canada. These graphs present data collected from Whitehorse General Hospital, Dawson City Community Hospital, and Watson Lake Community Hospital.