Vancouver Tops List of Fentanyl in Wastewater

Vancouver has highest level of fentanyl in wastewater

Vancouver has landed on the number one spot for something it won't be proud of -- having the highest level of fentanyl byproduct in its wastewater. Toronto and Edmonton are second and third respectively out of seven Canadian cities.

The Canadian Wastewater Survey measures the level of 10 different drugs, including norfentanyl, a byproduct of fentanyl breakdown in the body. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is used to treat chronic pain, but users can become addicted to it. Those who overdose on this drug, which is 20 to 40 times stronger than heroin, can die from it.

Seven Canadian cities' wastewater were tested

According to statistics released Friday, levels of norfentanyl in Metro Vancouver were four to five times higher than all other participating cities in 2022 and 2023. Toronto and Edmonton have the next highest levels, while Halifax has the lowest, as well as Montreal and Saskatoon.

Sadly Statistics Canada analyst Lisa Oliver is not surprised by the findings and says they are consistent with the last two years of data.

In addition, the Public Health Agency of Canada says fentanyl was implicated in more than 80 percent of accident opioid toxicity deaths in Canada in 2023.

Other substances included in Statistics Canada's analysis include cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy, cannabis and other opioids like codeine and oxycodone.

The data was collected from seven Canadian cities: Metro Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Prince Albert and Saskatoon.