Alcohol and Drug-Related Deaths Increased During Pandemic, Contributing to ‘Excess Mortality’ Rates: StatCan

Alcohol-induced deaths during COVID-19 increased 18 percent from 2019 to 2020—the largest year-over-year change in deaths caused by alcohol in 20 years, according to new figures released by Statistics Canada.Johnny Green/PA

Alcohol-induced deaths during COVID-19 increased by 18 percent from 2019 to 2020—the largest year-over-year change in deaths caused by alcohol in 20 years—while deaths from all causes were also higher than expected, according to new figures released by Statistics Canada (StatCan).

The data, released on Jan. 12, indicate that excess deaths in Canada overall increased significantly through the pandemic, with an estimated 53,741 excess deaths from the end of March 2020 to the end of August 2022—7.6 percent more deaths than expected had there been no pandemic.

During this period, at least 42,215 deaths were recorded as directly attributed to COVID-19.

The third week of January 2022 was the deadliest week in Canada since COVID-19 hit in March 2020, with 27 percent more deaths than expected. Nationally, there were 8,286 more deaths than expected from the beginning of January 2022 to the end of February 2022, or 16.8 percent more deaths than expected over that period, said the report.

The first period of excess mortality in 2022 was attributed mostly to deaths in Quebec and Ontario, however, the most recent period of excess mortality occurred in the three westernmost provinces, said StatCan.

The report notes that Alberta and B.C. had higher-than-expected weekly deaths through much of 2022.

Substance-Related Deaths

While COVID-19 was the main driver of excess deaths overall, drug and alcohol deaths among younger Canadians in particular claimed more lives during the pandemic than expected.

There were 3,790 alcohol-induced deaths in Canada in 2020 and 3,875 in 2021, compared with 3,200 in 2019, in the under-65 age group. The increase in deaths from 2019 to 2020 was historic in raising the year-over-year mortality rate to the highest level caused by alcohol in two decades.

For Canadians under 65 years old, the number of alcohol-induced deaths from 2019 to 2020 in this age group increased by 27 percent, from 1,955 to 2,490. Those aged 65 years and older had a 4 percent increase, from 1,245 to 1,300.

In 2021, the number of alcohol-induced deaths among those aged younger than 65 years (2,525) and among those aged 65 years and older (1,345) were similar to those observed in 2020.

Deaths attributed to accidental poisonings and overdoses from prescription and illegal drugs were also higher during the pandemic, going from 4,605 in 2020 to 6,310 in 2021. The death rate was particularly high among younger age groups.

Among individuals aged younger than 45 years, there were 2,640 accidental poisoning/drug overdose deaths in 2020 and 3,600 in 2021, said the report.

In 2021, in the 45 to 64-year age range, there were 1,735 deaths in 2020 and 2,355 in 2021. By comparison, among individuals aged 65 years and older, accidental poisoning was attributed to 230 deaths in 2020 and 350 in 2021.

These numbers are expected to increase with more data collected by StatCan, as the current figures released this month are provincial. Reporting delays and missing data from the Yukon have resulted in provisional estimates at the time the report was released.

Provisional death counts are based on what the vital statistics registries in the province and territories report to Statistics Canada. The report notes that estimating excess deaths that would have occurred in the absence of COVID-19 was a challenge, and that death counts vary year to year, for example, with changes in population due to aging or a growing population.