74% of Ontarians experiencing increased mental health, substance use challenges during pandemic

A campaign is calling on the government to do more to reduce wait times for mental health help
30,000+ US deaths linked to unemployment stemming from the pandemic

A new study has found that over 30,000 Americans have died due to pandemic-related job losses between April 2020 and March 2021.
Toronto Paramedic Services respond to 40 overdose calls in one day

According to the City of Toronto, in 2020 there were more than 2,000 total Covid-19 deaths and 823 drug related deaths in Toronto.
Vancouver mayor moves to decriminalize simple possession of illicit drugs

Brenna Owen, The Canadian PressWed Nov 18 2020 14:45:30 Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart says he’s preparing to table a motion that would see city council vote on the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs. “Personal possession and use of drugs are not a criminal justice issue, it’s a health issue, and it’s time we […]
With context and compassion: a comprehensive analysis of COVID-19 statistics Part 2

Interpreting depersonalized numbers with appropriate situational and human context, and a consideration of long-term implications
Pandemic aggravates opioid crisis as overdoses rise and services fall out of reach

The Public Health Agency of Canada reports a 138% increase in overdose deaths tied to opioids between March and August.