The “Find Your Way Community Resource Guide” provides both practitioners and service recipients contact information for organizations such as drug treatment centres, crisis lines, shelters, locations to pick up safer injection and inhalation supplies, as well as information on other community agencies.
For additional support, visit the Mental Health and Substance Use Health Services and Resources webpage.
Revised August 20, 2024
Contents
| Shelters |
|
MEN:
The Ottawa Mission
35 Waller St., 613-234-1144
The Salvation Army
171 George St., 613-241-1573
Shepherds of Good Hope
230 Murray St., 613-241-6494
(YSB) Young Men’s Emergency Shelter
613-907-8975
WOMEN:
Cornerstone Emergency Shelter
613-237-4669 ext. 300
Women’s Transitional Emergency Shelter Program, Shepherds of Good Hope
256 King Edward Ave., 613-688-2929 ext. 322
(YSB) Young Women’s Emergency Shelter
613-789-8220
WOMEN FLEEING ABUSE:
Chrysalis House, 613-591-5901
Interval House, 613-234-5181
Maison D’Amitié, 613-747-0020
Nelson House, 613-225-3129
MEN & WOMEN:
YMCA/YWCA, 180 Argyle Ave., 613-237-1320, 311
FAMILY:
Carling Family Shelter, 613-820-9909
|
| Needles and safer inhalation equipment public locations |
|
AIDS Committee of Ottawa
19 Main St., 613-238-5014
Carlington Community Health Centre & 24 Community Health Box
900 Merivale Rd., 613-722-4000 ext.260
Belong Ottawa @ Centre 454
454 King Edward Ave., 613-235-4351
Belong Ottawa @ St. Luke’s Table
211 Bronson Ave., 613-238-4193
Centre 507
507 Bank St., 613-233-5626 ext.221
Centretown Community Health Centre
420 Cooper St., 613-233-4443 ext.2208
Max Ottawa
400 Cooper St. Unit 9004, 613-440-3237
Ontario Addictions Treatment Centres
1318 Carling Ave., 613-627-0856
263 Montreal Rd., 613-749-9666
401 Somerset St., West 613-233-1114
Onyx Community Services
311 McArthur Rd., 1-888-833-5303
Operation Come Home
150 Gloucester Street., 613-230-4663
24hr: 1-800-668-4663
Ottawa Inner City Health-Shepherds of Good Hope
265 King Edward Ave., (343) 996-4376
Ottawa Public Health, Harm Reduction Program
179 Clarence St., 613-580-2424 ext. 29047
Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre
1365 Richmond Rd., 2nd Floor., 613-820-2001
Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, Oasis
221 Nelson St., 613-569-3488 ext. 2101
South East Ottawa Community Health Centre
600-1355 Bank St., 613-737-5115
Site Van
613-232-3232 *Collect Calls Accepted
Somerset West Community Health Centre,
N.E.S.I. Room
55 Eccles St., 613-238-8210 ext. 2246
Somerset West CHC, N.E.S.I. Van
613-761-0003
Terrasses Montfort Renaissance
1900 Blvd. St. Joseph, 613-424-3400
The Well
154 Somerset West., 613-594-8861
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
299 Montreal Rd., 613-748-5999 ext. 230
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
147 Besserer St., 613-241-7788 ext.300
|
|
Mobile and outreach services
|
|
Drug Overdose Prevention & Education Response Team (DOPE)
Carlington Catchment: 613-619-0584
Centretown Catchment: 613-619-0543
Somerset Catchment: 613-402-5189
Somerset West CHC, N.E.S.I. Van
613-761-0003
Site Van, Ottawa Public Health
613-232-3232 *Collect Calls Accepted
S.T.O.R.M. Van (Aboriginal Women)
613-265-7558
SWCHC: Homeless Crisis Outreach Project
West Centretown: 613-447-0029
|
|
General outreach
|
|
Salvation Army Van
613-296-8355 or 311
StreetSmarts Outreach
613-979-3387
|
| Pharmacy-needle/Syringe 5-packs |
|
Centretown Pharmacy
326 Bank St., 613-422-2900
Ottawa South Respect Rx Pharmacy
20-1800 Bank St., 613-424-9555
Palmyra Guardian
1013 Merivale Rd., 613-729-7117
Parkway Pharmacy
311 McArthur Ave., 613-749-2324
Respect Rx Vanier
45 Montreal Rd., 613-422-8181
Respect Rx West
14-2006 Roberston Rd., 613-680-6999
Respect Rx South
1800 Bank St., 613-414-9555
Shoppers Drug Mart
1300 Stitsville Main St., 613-831-0901
Swift Compounding Pharmacy
276 Bank St., 613-422-2202
Trust Care Pharmasave
1020 St. Laurent Blvd., 613-749-8577
Whole Health Pharmacy Ogilvie
1150 Cadboro Rd., 613-749-7455
|
| Drug information and treatment |
| INFORMATION:
ConnexOntario: Community Mental Health and Addiction Services
1-866-531-2600
DETOX:
Ottawa Withdrawal Management Centre
1777 Montreal Road., 613-241-1525
SUPPORT SERVICES & TREATMENT
AccessMHA
www.accessmha.ca, 613-241-5202
Addiction and Mental Health Services,
Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
221 Nelson St., 613-789-1500
Addiction Services, The Ottawa Mission
35 Waller St., 613-234-1144
Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline
613-237-6000
Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre
488 Wilbrod St., 613-563-0363
Canadian Mental Health Association
201-311 McArthur Ave., 613-737-7791
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre
112 Willowlea Rd., Carp, 613-594-8333
Managed Alcohol Program
256 King Edward Ave., 613-688-2929 x336
Montfort Renaissance
613-241-1266
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline
Free:1-888-811-3887
OASIS, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
221 Nelson St., 613-569-3488
Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres
401 Somerset St. West, 613-233-1114
263 Montreal Rd., 613-749-9666
1318 Carling Ave., 613-627-0856
Recovery Ottawa
45 Montreal Rd.., 613-763-6882
306 Rideau St., 613-454-0321
2006 Robertson Rd., 613-903-6006
1800 Bank St., 613-425-9525
Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM)
613-722-6521, ext. 6508
Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
312 Parkdale Ave., 613-724-4881
Serenity Renewal for Families
202-2255 St. Laurent Blvd., 613-523-5143
SMART Recovery
613-789-8941
T.E.S.P Transitional Emergency Shelter Program, Shepherds of Good Hope
256 King Edward Ave., 613-688-2929 x349
The Oaks, Shepherds of Good Hope
1053-1057 Merivale Rd., 613-288-0374
Youth Services Bureau – Downtown Drop In
147 Besserer St., 613-241-7788 X300 or 400
|
| Residential treatment facilities |
|
MEN:
Anchorage, The Salvation Army
175 George St., 613-241-1573 ext. 308/326
Harvest House
3435 Ramsayville Rd., 613-521-9114
Serenity House
103 Leopolds Dr., 613-733-3663
Sobriety House
90 First Ave., 613-233-0828
Terrasses Montfort Renaissance 1900 St-Joseph Boulevard 613-424-3400
WOMEN:
Empathy House
360 Sunnyside Ave., 613-730-7319
Vesta Recovery Program for Women
101 James St., 613-233-0353
Terrasses Montfort Renaissance 1900 St-Joseph Boulevard 613-424-3400
FRENCH SERVICES:
Maison Fraternité
242 Cantin St., 613-741-2523
YOUTH:
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre (Male & Gender Diverse)
1986 Scotch Corners Rd., 613-594-8333 ext. 3101
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre (Women & Gender Diverse)
1883 Bradley Side Rd., 613-594-8333 ext. 2207
|
| Drop-in centres/day programs |
|
Belong Ottawa at Centre 454
454 King Edward Ave., 613-235-4351
Belong Ottawa at St. Luke's Table
Temporary Location: 211 Bronson Ave.
Saturday Program: 70 James St., 613-238-4193
Belong Ottawa at The Well
154 Somerset St W., 613-594-8861
Capital City Mission
521 Rideau St., 613-241-2407
Centre Espoir Sophie (Women)
145 Murray St., 613-789-5119
Centre 507
507 Bank St., 613-233-5626
Kind Space
400 Cooper St., 613-563-4818
Minwaashin Lodge Aboriginal
Women’s Support Centre
100-1155 Lola St., 613-741-5590
Oasis, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
221 Nelson St., 613-569-3488
Operation Come Home
150 Gloucester., 613-230-4663
or 1-800-668-4663
St. Joe's Women's Centre
151 Laurier Ave. East, 613-231-6722
Shawenjeagamik Drop-In Centre
510 Rideau St., 613-789-3077
The Living Room, AIDS Committee of Ottawa
19 Main St., 613-563-0851
The Well (Women)
154 Somerset St. West, 613-594-8861
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
299 Montreal Rd., 613-748-5999
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
147 Besserer St., 613-241-7788
|
| Crisis lines/crisis services |
|
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 Crisis Line, 1-833-900-1010
Distress Centre (24 hours)
613-238-3311
Ottawa Hospital Mobile Crisis Team (Van)
613-722-6914
Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre
613-562-2333
Ottawa Victim Services
600-250 City Centre Ave., 613-238-2762
Sexual Assault Support Centre (24 hours)
613-234-2266
Suicide Crisis Helpline
9-8-8
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
24/7 Crisis Line: 1-877-377-7775, 613-260-2360
|
|
Sexual health, pregnancy and birth control
|
|
Planned Parenthood Ottawa
404-222 Somerset St. West, 613-226-3234
Sexual Health Centre & Gay Zone
179 Clarence St., 613-234-4641 (reception)
Ontario Sexual Health Info Line
1-800-668-2437
YSB Youth Health Clinic
147 Besserer St., 613-241-7913 ext. 222
HIV/AIDS
AIDS Committee of Ottawa
19 Main St., 613-238-5014
Bruce House
402-251 Bank St., 613-729-0911
Bureau Régional d’Action, SIDA (BRAS)
(French Services)
109 Wright St, Hull, Québec., 819-776-2727
Oasis, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
221 Nelson St., 613-569-3488
The Living Room, AIDS Committee of Ottawa
19 Main St., 613-563-0851
|
|
System navigation telephone lines
|
|
Client and Social Services Ontario
2-1-1
Health Connect Ontario
8-1-1
Ottawa Client Services
3-1-1
|
|
Additional Services
|
|
Dental Health Services
613-580-6744 ext. 23510
Gignul Housing Inc (Aboriginal Services)
396 MacLaren St., 613-232-0016
HALCO – HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario
1-888-705-8889
Housing Help
502-309 Cooper St., 613-563-4532
Legal Aid of Ontario
73 Albert St., 613-238-7931
Men & Healing
209-1300 Carling Ave., 613-482-9363
Odawa Native Friendship Centre
815 St. Laurent Blvd., 613-722-3811
Ottawa Police Service
613-236-1222
The Food Bank
613-745-7001
The Ottawa Mission’s Dental Clinic
35 Waller St., 613-234-1144 ext. 314
The Ottawa Mission’s Primary Care Clinic
35 Waller St., 613-288-0460
University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic
17 Copernicus St., 613-562-5600
Voice Found/Strength Found
613-763-5332//1-866-239-0558
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
299 Montreal Rd., 613-748-5999
|
|
Supervised consumptions services
|
|
Ottawa Public Health
179 Clarence St.
Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
221 Nelson St.
Somerset West Community Health Centre
55 Eccles St.
The Trailer, Shepherds of Good Hope
230 Murray St.
|
|
Please refer to Ottawa's Overdose Overview and the Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Community Dashboard for up-to-date data on substance use health in Ottawa.
For additional information on substance use health and available resources and services in Ottawa, please refer to Ottawa Public Health's (OPH) Stop Overdose webpage. For additional topical information on:
For additional information on substance use health in Ontario, please refer to Public Health Ontario's Substance Use and Harms Tool. This tool allows users to explore the most recent substance use health data, including emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths. Results can be viewed by public health unit, local health integration network, age, sex, and substance type.
Ottawa's Overdose Overview Dashboard
We have seen a significant increase in the harms of fatal and non-fatal overdoses since the start of the pandemic and unfortunately rates have remained elevated. A broad multi-faceted response is needed to help address the overdose crisis. This is a complex issue compounded by interrelated challenges of increased mental health concerns and an increase in the number of residents needing homelessness services in the community.
The data in Ottawa's Overdose Overview dashboard provide an early signal of changes in suspected overdose-related emergency department (ED) visits and deaths in Ottawa as well as trends in confirmed opioid-related ED visits and deaths among Ottawa residents. Suspect data are based on the chief complaint at triage for ED visits and, for deaths, evidence from the scene/investigation or preliminary autopsy findings. While not all suspected ED visits and deaths are confirmed to be related to an overdose, changes over time will provide useful information about trends in substance related harms. Suspect overdose data are based on all patients seen in Ottawa hospitals and deaths that occurred in Ottawa. Confirmed opioid-related ED visits and deaths are among residents of Ottawa. Data are refreshed as they become available from the various data sources provided to Ottawa Public Health.
The Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health in the Community (MHASUH) Dashboard
The MHASUH dashboard is a community driven tool, built by community partners, for the community. The goal of the dashboard is to improve the health status of the people of Ottawa in relation to mental health, addictions, and substance use health by centralizing and showcasing local data to support further action. This tool can be used to identify needs, inform systems and service planning and contribute to building long-term promotion and prevention strategies in the community.
Open Data on Substance Use Health and Overdoses
The following data tables are available for download on Open Ottawa:
Archived Content on Substance Use Health and Overdoses in Ottawa
Please refer to Ottawa's Overdose Overview and the Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Community Dashboard for up-to-date data on substance use health in Ottawa.
For additional information on substance use health and available resources and services, please refer to Ottawa Public Health's Stop Overdose webpage.
| Overall Substance Use Health - Archived Reports |
| Ottawa Student Drug Use and Health (OSDUH) Report, 2014 |
|
The Ottawa Student Drug Use and Health Report 2014 offers a snapshot of health risk behaviours among youth in Ottawa using data from the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS).
Full report [PDF 875 KB] Infographics:
|
| Substance Misuse in Ottawa, 2013 |
| This report focuses on the prevalence of substance use and the attributed burden of mental health, addictions, injury and chronic disease in Ottawa. It is meant to inform an evidence-based dialogue in our community to foster effective health prevention, promotion and interventions related to substance misuse.
Substance Misuse in Ottawa Report [PDF 887 KB.]
|
|
| Opioids, stimulants, and other drugs - Historical Data and Reports |
|
Drug use may result in acute effects such as overdose (poisoning) or mental and behavioural effects (e.g., the “bad trip” or withdrawal). Chronic use may cause other adverse health consequences. This section discusses the use of, and resulting acute morbidity and mortality from, drugs other than cannabis, alcohol and tobacco.
Historical Drug Use Data
| Emergency Department Visits for Drug Use |
|
In Ottawa:
- Unintentional opioid drug overdose emergency department visits exceed overdoses from all other drugs combined (e.g., cocaine, barbiturates and amphetamines). Opioid overdoses have increased markedly since 2015 (Figure 3).
- Young adults have the highest rates of unintentional opioid overdose emergency department visits, peaking in the 30 to 34 year age group (Figure 4).
Figure 3. Emergency department visits for unintentional opioid and non-opioid drug related overdoses in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 3 |
|
Unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
- Data includes poisonings from opioids (T400, T401, T402, T403, T404 and T406) and non-opioid drug poisonings (T405, T408, T423, T409 and T436).
- Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis overdoses (T407).
- Data includes patients with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
- For clarity, rates are not graphed, but are provided in the accompanying data table.
|
| Data Table for Figure 3 |
Table 3. Emergency department visits for unintentional opioid and non-opioid drug related overdoses in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017
| Year | All Opioid Overdoses Counts | Non-Opioid Overdoses Counts | Population | Opioid Overdose Rates (per 100,000 population) | Non-Opioid Overdoses Rates (per 100,000 population) |
| 2008 |
103 |
63 |
869,015 |
11.9 |
7.2 |
| 2009 |
104 |
61 |
883,741 |
11.8 |
6.9 |
| 2010 |
128 |
62 |
899,016 |
14.2 |
6.9 |
| 2011 |
138 |
72 |
912,248 |
15.1 |
7.9 |
| 2012 |
153 |
68 |
924,466 |
16.6 |
7.4 |
| 2013 |
198 |
82 |
936,180 |
21.1 |
8.8 |
| 2014 |
196 |
87 |
946,870 |
20.7 |
9.2 |
| 2015 |
178 |
94 |
956,929 |
18.6 |
9.8 |
| 2016 |
243 |
115 |
973,481 |
25 |
11.8 |
| 2017 |
370 |
122 |
996,651 |
37.1 |
12.2 |
|
Figure 4. Emergency department visit rates (counts per 100,000 population) for unintentional opioid overdose by age group in Ottawa, 2017 
| Data Sources and Notes for Figure 4 |
|
Unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
- Data includes unintentional poisonings from opioids (T400, T401, T402, T403, T404 and T406) and non-opioid drug poisonings (T405, T408, T423, T409 and T436).
- Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis overdoses (T407).
- Data includes patients with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
|
| Data Table for Figure 4 |
Table 4. Emergency department visit rates (counts per 100,000 population) for unintentional opioid overdose by age group in Ottawa, 2017
| Age Group (in Years) | Opioid Overdose Rate (per 100,000 population) |
| Less than 1 |
No cases |
| 1 to 4 |
No cases |
| 5 to 9 |
No cases |
| 10 to 14 |
5.8 |
| 15 to 19 |
40.5 |
| 20 to 24 |
55.5 |
| 25 to 29 |
71.7 |
| 30 to 34 |
83.4 |
| 35 to 39 |
50.1 |
| 40 to 44 |
33.5 |
| 45 to 49 |
51.5 |
| 50 to 54 |
32.1 |
| 55 to 59 |
37 |
| 60 to 64 |
27.1 |
| 65 and Older |
17.2 |
|
- A different pattern is seen when looking at drug-related emergency department visits for mental and behavioural disorders in Ottawa (Figure 5, Table 6). Non-opioid related mental and behavioural disorder emergency department visits exceed those of opioids and show an increasing trend beginning in 2015 (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Emergency department drug-related mental and behavioural disorder visits in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 5 |
|
Unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
- Data includes mental and behavioural disorders for opioids (F110-F119) and non-opioids (F130-139, F140-149, F150-159, F160-169, F180-F189 and F190-F199).
- Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis (F120-129).
- Data includes patients with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
- Rates are not graphed for clarity, but are provided in the accompanying data table.
|
| Data Table for Figure 5 |
Table 5. Emergency department drug related mental and behavioural disorder visits and rates as counts per 100,000 population in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017
| Year | All opioid mental disorder counts | Non-opioid mental disorder counts | Opioid mental disorder rate | Non-opioid mental disorder rate |
| 2008 |
209 |
1029 |
24.1 |
118.4 |
| 2009 |
229 |
879 |
25.9 |
99.5 |
| 2010 |
345 |
1014 |
38.4 |
112.8 |
| 2011 |
312 |
1005 |
34.2 |
110.2 |
| 2012 |
295 |
1008 |
31.9 |
109 |
| 2013 |
230 |
926 |
24.6 |
98.9 |
| 2014 |
236 |
1058 |
24.9 |
111.7 |
| 2015 |
285 |
1148 |
29.8 |
120 |
| 2016 |
294 |
1487 |
30.2 |
152.8 |
| 2017 |
395 |
1714 |
39.6 |
172.0 |
|
Table 6. Number of mental and behavioural disorder emergency department visits in Ottawa by drug type, 2017
| Drug Type | Number of emergency department visits |
| Multiple drug use |
947 |
| Cocaine |
537 |
| Opioids |
395 |
| Stimulants |
209 |
| Hypnotics |
97 |
| Hallucinogens |
21 |
| Solvents |
Less than 10 visits |
| Data Source and Notes for Table 6 |
|
Unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
- Data includes mental and behavioural disorders for opioids (F110-F119) and non-opioids (F130-139, F140-149, F150-159, F160-169, F180-F189 and F190-F199).
- Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis (F120-129).
- Data includes patients with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
- Rates are not graphed for clarity, but are provided in the accompanying data table.
|
|
| Hospitalizations for Drug Use |
|
In Ottawa:
- Unintentional opioid drug overdose hospitalizations exceeded overdoses from all other drugs combined (e.g., cocaine, barbiturates, amphetamines) (Figure 6).
- Adults aged 65 and older have the highest rates of unintentional opioid overdose hospitalizations (Figure 7). This group also has the highest rate of opioid prescription for pain (Figure 8).
Figure 6. Hospitalizations for unintentional drug related overdoses in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 6 |
|
Unscheduled hospitalizations, Discharge Abstract Database (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
- Data includes poisonings from opioids (T400, T401, T402, T403, T404 and T406) and non-opioid drug poisonings (T405, T408, T423, T409 and T436).
- Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis overdoses (T407).
- Data includes visits with Ottawa as the public health unit of the patient.
- Rates are not graphed for clarity, but are provided in the accompanying data table
|
| Data Table for Figure 6 |
Table 7. Hospitalization counts and rates (per 100,000 population) for opioid and non-opioid overdoses
| Year | Hospitalization counts for opioids | Hospitalization counts for non-opioids | Hospitalization rates for opioids | Hospitalization rates for non-opioids |
| 2008 |
32 |
16 |
3.7 |
1.8 |
| 2009 |
33 |
12 |
3.7 |
1.4 |
| 2010 |
15 |
13 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
| 2011 |
43 |
9 |
4.7 |
1 |
| 2012 |
45 |
15 |
4.9 |
1.6 |
| 2013 |
45 |
11 |
4.8 |
1.2 |
| 2014 |
55 |
23 |
5.8 |
2.4 |
| 2015 |
44 |
18 |
4.6 |
1.9 |
| 2016 |
64 |
22 |
6.6 |
2.3 |
| 2017 |
67 |
33 |
6.7 |
3.3 |
|
Figure 7. Hospitalization rates (counts per 100,000 population) for unintentional opioid overdose by age group in Ottawa, 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 7 |
|
Unscheduled hospitalizations, Discharge Abstract Database (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
- Data includes poisonings from opioids (T400, T401, T402, T403, T404 and T406) and non-opioid drug poisonings (T405, T408, T423, T409 and T436).
- Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis overdoses (T407).
- Data includes visits with Ottawa as the public health unit of the patient.
- Rates for those aged 0 to 19 are suppressed due to low counts.
|
| Data Table for Figure 7 |
Table 8. Hospitalization rates (counts per 100,000 population) for unintentional opioid overdose by age group in Ottawa, 2017
| Age Group (in Years) | Hospitalization Rate (per 100,000 population) |
| 0 to 19 |
Not reportable |
| 20 to 29 |
7 |
| 30 to 39 |
7 |
| 40 to 49 |
9.1 |
| 50 to 64 |
7 |
| 65 and older |
12.6 |
|
Figure 8. Prescription rates as counts per 1,000 population for opioid prescriptions for pain by age group in Ottawa, 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 8 |
|
Ontario Drug Policy Research Network. Ontario Prescription Opioid Tool. Toronto, ON; July 2018. Available from: http://odprn.ca/ontario-opioid-drug-observatory/ontario-prescription-opioid-tool/ [Extracted Oct 2, 2018]
|
| Data Table for Figure 8 |
|
Table 9. Individual prescription rates as counts per 1,000 population for opioid prescriptions for pain by age group in Ottawa, 2017
| Age Group (in Years) | Prescription Rate (per 100,000 population) |
| 0 to 14 |
10.4 |
| 15 to 24 |
71.6 |
| 25 to 44 |
75.6 |
| 45 to 64 |
130.2 |
| 65 and older |
197.6 |
|
- Although non-opioid mental health and behavioural hospitalizations exceed those that are opioid-related, this difference has narrowed in recent years (Figure 9).
- Table 11 shows the mental and behavioural disorder hospitalizations by drug type.
Figure 9. Opioid and non-opioid related mental and behavioural disorder hospitalizations in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017
![]: A line graph showing the count of hospitalizations for opioid and non-opioid related mental and behavioural disorders in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017](/en/reports-research-and-statistics/resources/Images/HosptDrugsMentalBehav_Ottawa_2017.png)
| Data Source and Notes for Figure 9 |
|
Unscheduled hospitalizations, Discharge Abstract Database (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
-
Data includes mental and behavioural disorders for opioids (F110-F119) and non-opioids (F130-139, F140-149, F150-159, F160-169, F180-F189 and F190-F199).
-
Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis (F120-129).
-
Data includes patients with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
-
Rates are not graphed for clarity, but are provided in the accompanying data table.
|
| Data Table for Figure 9 |
Table 10. Opioid and non-opioid related mental and behavioural disorder hospitalizations in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017
| Year | All Opioid Mental Disorder Counts | Non-Opioid Mental Disorder Counts | Opioid Mental Disorder Rate | Non-Opioid Mental Disorder Rate |
| 2008 |
85 |
216 |
9.8 |
24.9 |
| 2009 |
97 |
214 |
11 |
24.2 |
| 2010 |
104 |
214 |
11.6 |
23.8 |
| 2011 |
95 |
188 |
10.4 |
20.6 |
| 2012 |
103 |
189 |
11.1 |
20.4 |
| 2013 |
103 |
171 |
11 |
18.3 |
| 2014 |
138 |
177 |
14.6 |
18.7 |
| 2015 |
131 |
166 |
13.7 |
17.3 |
| 2016 |
176 |
228 |
18.1 |
23.4 |
| 2017 |
211 |
242 |
21.2 |
24.3 |
|
Table 11. Number of mental and behavioural disorder hospitalizations in Ottawa by drug type, 2017
| Drug Type | Number of hospitalizations |
| Opioids |
211 |
| Cocaine |
137 |
| Multiple drug use |
104 |
| Hypnotics |
26 |
| Stimulants |
25 |
| Hallucinogens |
<10 |
| Solvents |
<10 |
| Data Source and Notes for Table 11 |
Unscheduled hospitalizations, Discharge Abstract Database (2008-2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted Oct 2, 2018
-
Data includes mental and behavioural disorders for opioids (F110-F119) and non-opioids (F130-139, F140-149, F150-159, F160-169, F180-F189 and F190-F199).
-
Data excludes intentional events (X61, X62 and Y87) and those related to cannabis (F120-129).
-
Data includes patients with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
-
Rates are not graphed for clarity, but are provided in the accompanying data table.
|
|
| Fatalities and Drug Overdoses in Ottawa |
Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths
- In 2016, there were 45 deaths associated with unintentional drug overdoses, including overdoses where intent was unknown. The majority of these deaths (37, 82%) were opioid related (Figure 10).
- Figure 11 shows the age distribution of unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ottawa in 2016.
- The rate of drug overdose deaths increased 32% in Ottawa between 2014 and 2015 and only 6% in the rest of Ontario (Figure 12). The increase in unintentional overdose deaths in Ottawa and the rest of Ontario has been due to increased unintentional opioid overdose deaths (Figure 12).
- Since 2014, fentanyl has been involved in the largest proportion of drug overdose deaths in Ottawa. For more information see the "Drug-related death in Ottawa, 2000-2015" report.
Figure 10. Unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ottawa by type of drug involved, 2016

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 10 |
|
Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, extracted April 2018. Analyzed by Epidemiology Team, Ottawa Public Health.
- Data includes overdoses that were unintentional or of unknown intent. Data should be considered preliminary. Data includes people with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
|
| Data Table for Figure 10 |
Table 12. Unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ottawa by type of drug involved, 2016
| Drug type | Number of deaths |
| Fentanyl |
18 |
| Non-fentanyl opioids |
19 |
| All opioids |
37 |
| Non-opioid |
8 |
| Total |
45 |
|
Figure 11. Age distribution of unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ottawa, 2016 (45 deaths total)

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 11 |
| Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, extracted April 2018. Analyzed by Epidemiology Team, Ottawa Public Health. |
| Data Table for Figure 11 |
Table 13. Age distribution of Ottawa unintentional drug overdose deaths, 2016 (45 deaths total)
| Age Group | Number of Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths |
| 0 to 9 Years |
0 |
| 10 to 19 Years |
1 |
| 20 to 29 Years |
8 |
| 30 to 39 Years |
14 |
| 40 to 49 Years |
11 |
| 50 to 59 Years |
8 |
| 60 Years and Older |
3 |
|
Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths
Total opioid overdose deaths include those that are unintentional, intentional (suicide) or of unknown intent.
- There were a total of 64 opioid overdose deaths in 2017, an increase from 40 opioid overdose deaths in 2016 (Figure 12). The increase in opioid-related deaths is consistent with the trend seen in emergency room visits and hospitalizations: opioid-related harms have been increasing over the past few years (Figure 12).
- The mortality rate resulting from opioid use was highest in the 45 to 64 year old age group in 2017 (Figure 13).
- Fentanyl was the single most common opioid implicated in unintentional opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016 (Figure 10). In 2017, fentanyl was responsible for 72% of all-intent opioid related deaths (46 of 64). [4]
Figure 12. Total opioid overdose deaths in Ottawa and rates per 100,000 population, 2008 to 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 12 |
|
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Interactive Opioid Tool. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 2018. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Opioids/Opioids.aspx
|
| Data Table for Figure 12 |
Table 14. Total opioid overdose deaths in Ottawa from 2008 to 2017
| Year | Count of deaths | Rate of deaths |
| 2008 |
14 |
1.6 |
| 2009 |
34 |
3.8 |
| 2010 |
22 |
2.4 |
| 2011 |
20 |
2.2 |
| 2012 |
19 |
2.1 |
| 2013 |
29 |
3.1 |
| 2014 |
30 |
3.2 |
| 2015 |
34 |
3.6 |
| 2016 |
40 |
4.1 |
| 2017 |
64 |
6.4 |
|
Figure 13. Total opioid overdose related deaths by age group and rates as counts per 100,000 population in Ottawa, 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 13 |
|
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Interactive Opioid Tool. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 2018. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Opioids/Opioids.aspx
- Data includes all opioid overdoses and people with Ottawa as their public health unit of residence.
- The rates by age for a single year should be interpreted with caution because of low counts in some age groups.
|
| Data Table for Figure 13 |
Table 15. Total opioid overdose related deaths by age group and rates as counts per 100,000 population in Ottawa, 2017
| Age Group (in Years) | Count of Deaths | Rate of Deaths (per 100,000 population) |
| 0 to 14 |
1 |
0.6 |
| 15 to 24 |
7 |
5.4 |
| 25 to 44 |
25 |
8.6 |
| 45 to 64 |
28 |
10.5 |
| 65 and Older |
3 |
2
|
|
|
Historical Drug Use Reports
References for Historical Drug Use Data
| References |
- Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey 2015/16. Ontario Share File. Statistics Canada.
- Ottawa Public Health. Public Health Monitoring of Risk Factors in Ontario – Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey 2017. Centre for Addictions and Mental Health
- Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario. [Extracted April 2018]
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Interactive Opioid Tool. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 2018. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Opioids/Opioids.aspx
|
|
| Alcohol - Historical Data and Reports |
|
While the serious health and social impacts of illegal drug and non-medical prescription drug use is of concern, alcohol remains the most commonly misused substance in Ottawa. [1] When consumed in high quantities, alcohol use can lead to high-risk behaviours, injuries, and death. It can also contribute to a range of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, stroke and certain types of cancer. [2,3]
Alcohol-related health effects can be classified as acute or chronic:
- Acute health effects are short-term such as alcohol poisoning (intoxication) and injuries.
- Long-term alcohol use can lead to chronic health effects such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, liver disease, digestive problems, diabetes, mental health problems, cancer, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. [7,8] Most long-term health effects of alcohol use are related to the amount consumed. Mental illness and alcohol consumption are linked. Alcohol is a major risk factor for several mental illnesses; however, some mental illnesses precede heavy drinking. [9]
Youth Alcohol Consumption
|
First Use of Alcohol
- Among Grade 9 to 12 Ottawa students in 2017, 23% reported using alcohol before Grade 9. [6]
Harmful Drinking Behaviour
- In 2017, almost one in six (15%*) Grade 9 to 12 students in Ottawa reported getting drunk (i.e., had so much to drink that they could not do what they wanted to do or threw up) in the past four weeks. [6]
- In 2017, one in ten (10%*) Grade 9 to 12 students in Ottawa reported drinking at a hazardous or harmful level, as determined by the AUDIT screen. [6]
- Among Grade 9 to 12 students in Ottawa that had consumed alcohol in the past year, one in five (20%*) reported drinking at hazardous or harmful levels. [6]
Alcohol and Cannabis Co-use
- In 2017, 18%* of Grade 9 to 12 students in Ottawa reported using alcohol and cannabis at the same time in the past year. [6]
|
Status of Alcohol in Ottawa: Let's Continue the Conversation, 2016
|
|
This report blends local epidemiological data on drinking and alcohol-related harms with local perspectives from the 2016 online "Have Your Say" alcohol survey in order to provide a complete picture of how alcohol affects our community.
Status of Alcohol in Ottawa: Let's Continue the Conversation, 2016 [PDF 7.7 MB]
|
References - Historical Data on Alcohol Use
|
-
Ottawa Public Health. Problematic Substance Use in Ottawa: Technical Report. Ottawa, Ontario; 2016.
-
Rehm J, Mathers C, Popova S, Thavorncharoensap M, Teerawattananon Y, Patra J. Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet. 2009;373(9682):2223-33.
-
World Health Organization. Global status report on alcohol and health 2014. Geneva; 2014.
-
Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey Ontario Share File 2015-2016. Statistics Canada.
-
Ottawa Public Health. Status of Alcohol in Ottawa: Let's Continue the Conversation. Ottawa, Ontario; 2016.
- Ottawa Public Health. Public Health Monitoring of Risk Factors in Ontario – Ontario Student Druge Use and Health Survey (2017), Centre for Addictions and Mental Health.
-
Public Health Agency of Canada. The Chief Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2015. Alcohol Consumption in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario 2016.
-
Butt P, Beirness, G, Gliksman, L, Paradis, C, Stockwell, T. Alcohol and health in Canada: A summary of evidence and guidelines for low-risk drinking. An independent report prepared for the National Alcohol Strategy Advisory Committee and the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, Ottawa, Canada. 2010.
-
Patel V, Flisher AJ, Hetrick S, McGorry P. Mental health of young people: a global public-health challenge. Lancet. 2007;369(9569):1302-13.
|
|
| Cannabis - Historical Data and Reports |
|
As of October 17th, 2018, adults who are 19 years of age or older in Ontario can legally possess and purchase cannabis with some restrictions. Additional information about Ontario’s laws is available on the Government of Ontario's webpage on Cannabis Legalization.
Cannabis use has some health risks that are best avoided by abstaining from use. For individuals who choose to use cannabis, the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines provide information on how to reduce health risks associated with cannabis use.
Cannabis use among Ottawa adults
|
|
Cannabis use for adults includes those who have used cannabis in the past 12 months while excluding those who have only used it once in their lifetime.
- in 2015-16, cannabis use in Ottawa among those 19 years of age or older was slightly higher than the provincial average: 15% compared to 11%. [1]
- Cannabis use was highest among men (20%) and young adults age 19 to 24 (33%) and those with a high school education as their highest educational attainment (25%) (Figure 1).
- Ottawa residents with a mother tongue other than French or English had lower rates of cannabis use (5%). [1]
Figure 1. Cannabis use in Ottawa by subgroup (19 years of age or older), with the exception of the 12 to 18 age group, 2015-2016.

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 1 |
|
Canadian Community Health Survey 2015-2016. MOHLTC Share File.
- The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is an annual national population health survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
- Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals
- NR means not reportable due to high sampling variability
- Asterisk means interpret with caution due to high sampling variability
|
| Data Table for Figure 1 |
Table 1. Cannabis use in Ottawa by subgroup (19 years of age or older), with the exception of the 12 to 18 age group, 2015-2016
| Measure | Prevalence of Cannabis Use in the Past 12 Months | 95% Confidence Intervals | Interpretation |
| Ottawa |
14.7 |
2.1 |
|
| Ontario less Ottawa |
11.1 |
0.6 |
|
| Men |
19.9 |
3.5 |
|
| Women |
9.7 |
2.5 |
|
| 12 to 18 Years Old |
12.1 |
8.2 |
Interpret with caution |
| 19 to 24 Years Old |
32.7 |
11.8 |
Interpret with caution |
| 25 to 44 Years Old |
24.2 |
4.9 |
|
| 45 to 64 Years Old |
5.8 |
2.3 |
|
| 65 Years Old or Older |
Not reportable |
|
|
| English |
17.7 |
4 |
|
| French |
18.1 |
6.7 |
Interpret with caution |
| Other |
5.4 |
3.3 |
Interpret with caution |
| No High School |
Not reportable |
2.9 |
|
| High School |
25.4 |
8 |
Interpret with caution |
| Postsecondary |
12.3 |
2.6 |
|
|
|
| Cannabis use among Ottawa youth |
- In 2017, 18% of Ottawa students in Grades 7 to 12 reported using cannabis in the past year, which is similar to students in the rest of Ontario (19%). Use in the past year use has not significantly changed in Ottawa since 2009. [2]
- Among students who’ve used cannabis: [2]
- one-quarter (27%) first tried it before Grade 9,
- half (50%) first tried it in Grade 9 or 10, and
- one in five (21%) first tried it in Grade 11 or 12.
- Just over 1/3 of Ottawa students in Grades 7 to 12 (34%) felt that getting cannabis would be easy or fairly easy. [2]
|
| Are people more likely to use now that cannabis is legal? |
- Approximately 14% of adults who have not used cannabis in the past year are at least moderately likely to try cannabis post-legalization. [3]
- Once legalized, 13% of Grade 9 to 12 students in Ottawa reported they would try cannabis. An additional 19% of Grade 9 to 12 students reported they would use it as often or more often than they currently do. [2]
|
| What are the harms related to cannabis? |
|
There are some harms associated with cannabis use.
- The annual number and rate (per 100,000 population) of emergency department (ED) visits directly related to cannabis use has increased from 2008 to 2017 (Figure 2).
- Over 93% of cannabis-related ED visits are for mental and behavioural disorders. The frequency of cannabis-related mental and behavioural disorders by type of disorder are shown in Table 3.
- These statistics do not represent the full health burden of cannabis. Harms secondary to cannabis use, such as injuries resulting from a car crash where the driver was impaired by cannabis can’t be identified from existing data.
Figure 2. Annual number of cannabis-related emergency department (ED) visits and rate as ED visits per 100,000 population for Ottawa residents from 2008 to 2017

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 2 |
| National Ambulatory Care Reporting System 2008-2017, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: Aug 2018. |
| Data Table for Figure 2 |
Table 2. Cannabis related emergency department visits as counts and rate per 100,000 population in Ottawa by calendar year, 2008 to 2017
| Calendar | Count | Rate |
| 2008 |
202 |
23.2 |
| 2009 |
175 |
19.8 |
| 2010 |
209 |
23.2 |
| 2011 |
245 |
26.9 |
| 2012 |
281 |
30.4 |
| 2013 |
359 |
38.3 |
| 2014 |
505 |
53.3 |
| 2015 |
498 |
52.0 |
| 2016 |
654 |
67.2 |
| 2017 |
883 |
88.6 |
|
Table 3. Percent of cannabis-related mental and behavioural ED visits by diagnosis category from 2008 to 2017 in Ottawa
| Diagnosis category* | Percent of visits ** |
| Acute intoxication |
19% |
| Harmful use |
55% |
| Dependence syndrome |
10% |
| Withdrawal |
3% |
| Psychotic disorder |
8% |
| Other or unspecified disorders |
5% |
| Data Source and Notes for Table 3 |
|
National Ambulatory Care Reporting System 2008-2017, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: Aug 2018.
* Codes for some categories are combined (e.g. withdrawal and withdrawal delirium)
** Codes used less than 1% of the time are not included
|
|
|
How are people using cannabis?
|
- Ottawa level data on methods and practices is not currently available
- Canadian data shows the main methods of consumption were [5]:
- smoking (94%),
- eating in food (34%),
- vaporizing using a vape pen (20%), and
- vaporizing using a vaporizer (14%).
|
|
People's perception of smoking or using edible cannabis
|
-
In Ottawa, 63% of those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months thought that the effects are felt more quickly when cannabis is smoked as compared to eaten (63%). This drops to 43% among those who have used cannabis in the past but haven’t used it in the past 12 months. Over half of those who have never used cannabis (58%) were not sure. [3]
-
In Ottawa, 84% of those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months thought that smoking cigarettes was more harmful than smoking cannabis (84%). Those who used before but not in the past year were less likely to think this (62%) as were those who have never used (42%). [3]
|
|
Cannabis and potency
|
- There is no population health data about how people choose cannabis products or how things like potency may influence choices. The source people choose (e.g. home grown, retail cannabis) may be important for potency considerations.
|
|
Cannabis availability and access
|
- Just over one-third (34%) of Ottawa students in Grades 7 to 12 think cannabis would be fairly easy or very easy to get if they wanted some. [2]
- Perceived ease of availability increased with increasing age: 14%* of Grade 7 to 8 students, 30% of Grade 9 to 10 students, and 63% of Grade 11 to 12 students think cannabis would be fairly easy or very easy to get. [2]
- Almost half (44%) of Grade 7 to 12 students who used cannabis in the past year reported that it was given to or shared with them by a friend, sibling or parent. [2]
- Canadian data shows that about 36% adults tend to get cannabis from friend or family. [5]
*Interpret with caution due to high sampling variability
|
|
Frequency and intensity of cannabis use
|
|
Frequent (i.e., daily or near daily) use can increase the likelihood of negative health effects, particularly mental health problems, dependence, and changes to brain growth and development prior to 25 years of age.
- Just over a third of Ottawa residents (36%) who used cannabis in the past year report using it weekly or more, 19% use it between 1 to 3 times a month and 44% report using it less than once a month. [1]
- Among Grade 9-12 students, 11% report using cannabis more than 10 times in the 12 months prior to the survey. [2]
|
|
Cannabis and driving
|
- The risk of accident involvement and driving-related injuries or death is two to three times higher among cannabis-impaired compared with non-impaired drivers. The risk is even higher if cannabis and alcohol are used together. [6]
- One in ten Grade 7 to 12 students (11%) have ridden in a vehicle at least once in the past year when the driver had been using drugs. [2]
- In Canada, 14% of cannabis users with a valid driver's license said they had driven within two hours of use. This increases to 23% for drivers who used cannabis daily or weekly. [5]
- In Ottawa, 84% of those who used cannabis in the past year felt that cannabis use impairs one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. [3]
|
|
Special risk populations
|
People with a history or family history of psychosis or substance use disorders have higher or distinct risks for cannabis-related health problems. [6]
- Ottawa residents who self-report a mood or anxiety disorder were just over twice as likely to have used cannabis in the past 12 months compared to those not reporting such a disorder: 27% versus 12% [1]. This does not imply causation, but that a group that may be vulnerable appears to be using cannabis.
- Current evidence demonstrates that cannabis can cross the placenta and is found in breast milk [7], so pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using cannabis. [6]
|
|
|
- Canadian Community Health Survey 2015-2016, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
- Ottawa Public Health. Public Health Monitoring of Risk Factors in Ontario-OSDUHS (2017). Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; 2018.Survey of Ottawa Residents of Health Risks of Cannabis. EKOS Research Associates Inc. January 4, 2018
- Survey of Ottawa Residents of Health Risks of Cannabis. EKOS Research Associates Inc. January 4, 2018
- National Ambulatory Care Reporting System 2008-2017, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: Aug 2018
- The Canadian Cannabis Survey. Health Canada 2017. Summary available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/drugs-health-products/canadian-cannabis-survey-2017-summary.html
- Fischer, B., Russell, C., Sabioni, P., van den Brink, W., Le Foll, B., Hall, W., Rehm, J. & Room, R. (2017). Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG): An evidence-based update. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8). DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303818
- Metz TD, Borgelt LM. Marijuana Use in Pregnancy and While Breastfeeding. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print]
|
|
|
Tobacco, Waterpipes, and E-cigarettes - Historical Data and Reports
|
Tobacco Use
This section includes historical data on the prevalence of tobacco-related behaviours, morbidity and mortality related to tobacco-related behaviours, and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Adult Smoking
|
Current Smoking Trends Over Time
Current smoking includes those aged 19 and older that have used at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke tobacco.
- In 2015-2016, 15% of Ottawa residents aged 19 and older were current smokers. This estimate was significantly lower than Ontario-less-Ottawa (17%). [1]
- Current smoking rates in Ottawa have declined since the early 2000’s (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Percentage of current smokers aged 19 years and older in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa, from 2001 to 2016

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 1 |
|
Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey, 2001-2016, Ontario Share File, Statistics Canada
- The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is an annual national population health survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
- In 2015, Statistics Canada changed the design, methodology and questionnaire of the CCHS. As a result of the changes from the 2015 redesign, caution should be taken when comparing estimates to previous years.
- The vertical dashed line on the right represents the change in CCHS sampling methods.
- Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
|
| Data Table for Figure 1 |
Table 1. Percentage of current smokers aged 19 years and older in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa, from 2001 to 2016
| Measure |
2001 (%)
| 2003 (%) | 2005 (%) | 2007-2008 (%) | 2009-2010 (%) | 2011-2012 (%) | 2013-2014 (%) | 2015-2016 (%) |
| Current Smoking in Ottawa |
22.1 |
20.3 |
20.5 |
18.4 |
16.4 |
16.6 |
16.8 |
14.6 |
| Current Smoking in Ottawa 95% Confidence Interval |
2.3 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
| Current Smoking in Ontario-less-Ottawa |
26.1 |
23.8 |
22.4 |
22.2 |
20.6 |
20.5 |
19.1 |
17.1 |
| Current Smoking in Ontario-less-Ottawa 95% Confidence Interval |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
|
Current Smoking Trends by Socio-demographics
- In Ottawa, current smoking prevalence is higher among those (Figure 2):
- between the ages of 19 and 24 (18%*);
- with French as a mother tongue (20%*);
- with lower levels of education (22%*); and
- with lower income (26%*).
Figure 2. Percentage of current smokers aged 19 years and older by selected socio-demographic indicators in Ottawa in 2015/16. Only the 12 to 18 year age group includes those under 19 years of age.

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 2 |
Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey, 2001 to 2016, Ontario Share File, Statistics Canada
- The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is an annual national population health survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
- Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
- *Interpret with caution - high sampling variability.
- NR = Data are not reportable.
- Household income quintile (Q1 to Q5) is a measure of household income relative to all other survey respondents in Ottawa, adjusted for household size. A respondent in Q1 would be in the lowest 20% of household incomes and a respondent in Q5 would be in the highest 20% of household incomes.
|
| Data Table for Figure 2 |
Table 2. Percentage of current smokers aged 19 years and older by selected socio-demographic indicators in Ottawa in 2015/16. Only the 12-18 age group includes those under 19 years of age.
| Measure | Estimate (%) | 95% Confidence Interval | Interpretation |
| Ottawa Prevalence |
14.6 |
2.9 |
|
| Ontario-less-Ottawa Prevalence |
17.1 |
0.8 |
|
| 12 to 18 Years |
|
|
Not reportable |
| 19 to 24 Years |
18.1 |
9.4 |
Interpret with caution |
| 25 to 44 Years |
16.4 |
5 |
Interpret with caution |
| 45 to 64 Years |
15.5 |
4.8 |
Interpret with caution |
| 65 Years and Older |
6.9 |
3.3 |
Interpret with caution |
| Mother Tongue is English |
13.6 |
3.4 |
Interpret with caution |
| Mother Tongue is French |
20.2 |
7 |
Interpret with caution |
| Mother Tongue is a Language Other than English or French |
7.9 |
3.7 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 1 (Lowest Income) |
25.8 |
7.8 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 2 |
14.1 |
6.8 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 3 |
19.2 |
6.5 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 4 |
10.2 |
4.6 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 5 (Highest Income) |
5 |
3.2 |
Interpret with caution |
| Highest Educational Attainment is Less than High School |
21.6 |
10.5 |
Interpret with caution |
| Highest Educational Attainment is High School |
23.1 |
8.3 |
Interpret with caution |
| Highest Educational Attainment is Postsecondary |
12 |
3.1 |
Interpret with caution |
| Not an immigrant |
15.7 |
3.3 |
|
| Immigrated Less than 10 Years Ago |
|
|
Not reportable |
| Immigrated More than 10 Years Ago |
7.2 |
4.2 |
Interpret with caution |
|
Daily Smoking Trends Over Time
- An estimated 10% of the Ottawa population aged 19 and over smoke tobacco daily. Daily smoking rates in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa have decreased since the early 2000’s (Figure 3).
- Daily smoking is highest among those in the lowest income category and among those without post-secondary education (Figure 4).
Figure 3. Percentage of daily smokers aged 19 years and older in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa, from 2001 to 2016

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 3 |
Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey 2001 to 2016. Ontario Share File. Statistics Canada.
- The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is an annual national population health survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
- In 2015, Statistics Canada changed the design, methodology and questionnaire of the CCHS. As a result of the changes from the 2015 redesign, caution should be taken when comparing estimates to previous years.
- The vertical dashed line on the right represents the change in CCHS sampling methods.
- Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
|
| Data Table for Figure 3 |
Table 3. Percentage of daily smokers aged 19 years and over in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa, from 2001 to 2016
| Measure | 2001 (%) | 2003 (%) | 2005 (%) | 2007-2008 (%) | 2009-2010 (%) | 2011-2012 (%) | 2013-2014 (%) | 2015-2016 (%) |
| Ottawa |
18.2 |
14.8 |
14.4 |
13.2 |
10.5 |
11 |
11.7 |
9.8 |
| Ottawa 95% Confidence Interval |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
| Ontario-less-Ottawa |
21.7 |
18.4 |
17.4 |
18 |
16 |
15.6 |
14.4 |
12.7 |
| Ontario-less-Ottawa 95% Confidence Interval |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
|
Daily Smoking by Socio-demographics
Figure 4. Percentage of daily smokers aged 19 years and older by selected socio-demographic indicators in Ottawa in 2015/16. Only the 12 to 18 year age group includes those under 19 years of age.

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 4 |
|
Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey 2001 to 2016. Ontario Share File. Statistics Canada.
- The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is an annual national population health survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
- Vertical solid lines represent 95% confidence intervals.
- *Interpret with caution - high sampling variability.
- NR = Data are not reportable.
- Household income quintile (Q1 to Q5) is a measure of household income relative to all other survey respondents in Ottawa, adjusted for household size. A respondent in Q1 would be in the lowest 20% of household incomes and a respondent in Q5 would be in the highest 20% of household incomes.
|
| Data Table for Figure 4 |
Table 4. Percentage of daily smokers aged 19 years and older by selected socio-demographic indicators in Ottawa in 2015-2016. Only the 12 to 18 year age group includes those under 19 years of age.
| Socio-demographic Indicator | Estimate (%) | 95% Confidence Interval | Interpretation |
| Ottawa Prevalence |
9.8 |
2.4 |
|
| Ontario-less-Ottawa Prevalence |
12.4 |
0.7 |
|
| 12 to 18 Years |
|
|
Not reportable |
| 19 to 24 Years |
|
|
Not reportable |
| 25 to 44 Years |
9.6 |
4.3 |
Interpret with caution |
| 45 to 64 Years |
12.3 |
4.3 |
Interpret with caution |
| 65+ Years |
6.3 |
3.2 |
Interpret with caution |
| Mother Tongue is English |
8.1 |
2.3 |
|
| Mother Tongue is French |
13.1 |
5.9 |
Interpret with caution |
| Mother Tongue is a Language Other than English or French |
5.7 |
3.3 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 1 (Lowest Income) |
20.5 |
7.8 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 2 |
9 |
4.9 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 3 |
9.5 |
5.2 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 4 |
7.4 |
4.4 |
Interpret with caution |
| Income Quintile 5 (Highest Income) |
|
|
Not reportable |
| Highest Educational Attainment is Less than high school |
19.2 |
10.4 |
Interpret with caution |
| Highest Educational Attainment is High school |
15.6 |
7.6 |
Interpret with caution |
| Highest Educational Attainment is Postsecondary |
7.7 |
2.3 |
Interpret with caution |
|
|
Youth Smoking
|
|
This section describes cigarette use and access to tobacco among youth in Ottawa.
Use of cigarettes
- Among Grade 7 to 12 students [2]:
- 6% reported smoking one or more cigarette in the past year;
- 4% were former smokers;
- 4% had tried a few puffs to one whole cigarette in the past year; and
- 87% had never smoked.
- Elementary students (Grades 7 and 8) were significantly more likely to report having never used cigarettes in the past year (97%) compared to students in high school (83%). [2]
Ease of acquiring cigarettes
Students in Grades 7 to 12 were asked how easy they felt it would be to get cigarettes if they wanted them.
- 43% percent of students reported that they felt it would be very to fairly easy to get cigarettes. An additional 29% reported that it would be fairly difficult to impossible and 27% did not know. [2]
- High school students (Grades 9 to 12) (53%) were more likely than elementary students (Grades 7 to 8) (26%) to say that it would be very to fairly easy to get cigarettes. [2]
- Students who identified as immigrants were less likely to feel that it would be easy to get cigarettes compared (30%) to non-immigrant students (48%). [2]
|
Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke
|
Public Places
- In Ottawa, 15% of the population aged 12 years and older who are not daily smokers reported regular exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in public places. This estimate is not significantly different from Ontario-less-Ottawa (16%). [1]
Workplaces and Schools
- In Ottawa, 15% of the population aged 12 years and older who are not daily smokers reported regular exposure to ETS at work or school. This is not significantly different from Ontario-less-Ottawa (16%). [1]
- 14% of Ottawa students in Grades 7 to 12 are regularly (4 or more days a week) exposed to other people’s tobacco smoke. [2]
- Students in Grades 9 to 12 (17%) were more likely than students in Grades 7 and 8 (9%) to be exposed to seconhand smoke. [2]
Vehicles
- 3% of the Ottawa population aged 12 years and up who are not daily smokers reported being regularly exposed to ETS in vehicles. [1]
Smoke-free Homes
- In Ottawa, 92% of homes are completely smoke free. This is higher than Ontario-less-Ottawa for which 90% of homes are completely smoke free. [1]
|
Health Burden of Smoking
|
Health burden is measured based on a 5 year average and uses multiple data sources. [3,4,5]
- Smoking is responsible for an estimated 916 deaths per year in Ottawa.
- 866 deaths (17% of deaths from any cause) are attributable to current or former cigarette smoking among adults aged 35 years and older and
- 50 deaths (1% of deaths from any cause) are attributable to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in residents aged 15 years and older.
- Cancer accounts for 50% of smoking-attributable mortality (SAM) among current or former smokers, while cardiovascular disease accounts for 29% of SAM, and respiratory disease accounts for 21% of SAM.
- There are an estimated 3,020 acute hospitalizations per year in Ottawa attributable to smoking.
- 2,942 hospitalizations are attributable to current or former cigarette smoking
- 118 hospitalizations are attributable to environmental tobacco smoke exposure among residents.
- Hospitalization costs amounted to an average of $32.7 million per year for smoking-attributable hospitalizations of Ottawa residents from 2008 to 2012.
- $31.1 million for current or former smokers
- $1.6 million for non-smokers regularly exposed to ETS.
|
Waterpipe Use
Smoking tobacco using a waterpipe (also called a hookah or sheesha) is increasing in prevalence worldwide. The misconception that waterpipe smoking is safer than other forms of tobacco use may lead users to underestimate health risks. [6]
Waterpipe Use Among Adults
|
Waterpipe Used at Least Once - Adults (18 years and older)
- In 2017, 26% of adults in Ottawa had used a waterpipe at some point in their life to smoke tobacco or non-tobacco herbal products. [7] Waterpipe use at least once in a lifetime was highest among men and those aged 18 to 24 years (Figure 5).
- Among Ottawa adults that had used a waterpipe in their lifetime [7]:
- 38% had used tobacco only;
- 36% had used herbal products only; and
- 26% had used both tobacco and herbal products.
- In 2017, 4%* of adults in Ottawa that had never used a waterpipe reported having seriously thought about smoking a waterpipe. [7]
Figure 5. Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used a waterpipe at least once in their lifetime by selected socio-demographic indicators in Ottawa in 2017.

| Data Source and Notes for Figure 5 |
|
Ottawa Public Health. Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017.
Vertical bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
* Interpret with caution due to high sampling variability
|
| Data Table for Figure 5 |
Table 5. Lifetime waterpipe use among those 18 and older by subgroups in Ottawa, 2017
|
Measure
|
Estimate (%)
|
95% confidence interval
|
Interpretation
|
|
2017
|
25.8
|
3.2
|
|
|
Male
|
34.1
|
4.9
|
|
|
Female
|
17.9
|
4.2
|
|
|
18 to 24 Years of Age
|
49.6
|
14.2
|
|
|
25 to 44 Years of Age
|
37.8
|
6.7
|
|
|
45 to 64 Years of Age
|
16.2
|
3.8
|
|
|
65+ Years of Age
|
6.8
|
2.8
|
Interpret with caution
|
|
Waterpipe Use in the Past 12 months – Adults (18 years and older)
- In 2017, 6%* of Ottawa adults had used a waterpipe in the past 12 months to smoke tobacco or non-tobacco herbal products. [7] This is not different than the estimate for Ontario (including Ottawa). [8]
- Use is highest among young adults aged 18 to 24 at 28%. [7]
- Ottawa adults reported using a waterpipe in the past 12 months at the following locations (no other locations are reportable due to high sampling variability)[7]:
- restaurant, bar, or club (43%*);
- at home (41%*); and
- someone else’s home (35%*).
- Of Ottawa adults that had used a waterpipe in the past 12 months, 78% used the waterpipe once a month or less and 22%* used the waterpipe more than once a month. [7]
- Of those who have used a waterpipe in the past 12 months, 58%* always or sometimes shared a mouthpiece. [7]
|
Waterpipe Use Among Youth
|
Waterpipe Use at Least Once – Youth (Grades 7 to 12)
- In 2017, 14%* of grade 7 to 12 students in Ottawa had used a waterpipe at some point in their life. [2] This is not different from Ontario-less-Ottawa.
Waterpipe Use in the Past 12 Months – Youth (Grades 7 to 12)
- In 2017, 9%* of grade 7 to 12 students in Ottawa had used a waterpipe in the past 12 months. [2] This is not different from Ontario-less-Ottawa.
- Of grade 7 to 12 students in Ottawa that had used a waterpipe in the past 12 months, 7%* had experimented (i.e., used a few times or less) while 5%* were current users (i.e., at least once a month). [2]
Perception of Risk and Waterpipe Use – Youth (Grades 7 to 12)
- The percent of Grade 7 to 12 students that felt smoking a waterpipe presented a physical risk to the user by risk level [2] was:
- 43% medium to high risk to user;
- 23% no or slight risk to user; and
- 32% unsure of risk to user.
|
E-cigarette Use
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered devices that vaporise the liquid contents of a cartridge. The user then inhales the vapour.
Adult E-cigarette use
|
- E-cigarette use in Ottawa among those aged 19 and over is 12% for use in their lifetime, 8%* for use in the past 12 months and 2%* for use in the past month. [7] This is not different from the Ontario population aged 18 and older (including Ottawa). [8]
- Just over half of those who used e-cigarettes in the past 12 months are current smokers (56%*). Of current smokers, 39% reported using an e-cigarette in the past 12 months. [7]
Motives for use
- Of those who used an e-cigarette in their lifetime, most of their use appears to be related to smoking cessation [7]:
- 42% used e-cigarettes to help quit smoking,
- 13%* to try to cut back on the amount of cigarettes.
- In 2017, 12%* used e-cigarettes out of curiosity, down from 40% in 2016.
Beliefs about risk
-
When asked about their beliefs about the risks of using e-cigarettes [7]:
-
66% of Ottawa residents aged 19 and over feel that it present a high to medium health risk;
-
15% feel that it presents low or no risk; and
-
19% are unsure of the risk
-
Those that used an e-cigarette in the past 12 months were nearly three times as likely as non-users to say that e-cigarettes represented low or no risk (35% versus 13%). [7]
|
Youth and E-cigarettes
|
- One in ten (10.1%* (95% CI: 6.2% to 16.3%)) high school students (grade 7 to 12) had used an e-cigarette at least once in the past 12 months. [2] This is not different from Ontario-less-Ottawa.
- 48% of Grade 9-12 students felt that e-cigarettes present no or a slight risk of physical harm with regular use. [2]
|
Tobacco Reports
A Review of Tobacco Indicators 2012
|
The purpose of this report is to highlight important trends in tobacco in the population to support Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and its partners address strategic and operation decisions. The report portrays a current view of the prevalence of tobacco-related behaviours and the inevitable morbidity and mortality and cost attributable to tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. Review of Tobacco Indicators report [PDF 657 KB] |
References
|
|
- Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey 2015/16. Ontario Share File. Statistics Canada
-
Ottawa Public Health. Public Health Monitoring of Risk Factors in Ontario – Ontario Student Druge Use and Health Survey 2017. Centre for Addictions and Mental Health
- Ottawa Public Health. Canadian Community Health Survey 2008 to 2012. Ontario Share File. Statistics Canada
- Ontario Mortality Data 2008 to 2012, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date extracted: January 2017
- National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) 2013 to 2015. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC): IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: January 2017
- Cobb C,Ward KD, Maziak W, Shihadeh,AL, Eissenberg T. Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: An Emerging Health Crisis in the United States. American Journal of Health Behavior, Volume 34, Number 3, May 2010 , pp. 275-285(11)
- Ottawa Public Health. Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017.
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor (Full Year), 2016.
|
|
|