Home > Health > Science, research & data > Public Health Infobase > Drug Analysis Service Drug Analysis Service (2021-09-07)
Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service (DAS) operates laboratories across Canada that analyze suspected illegal drugs seized by Canadian law enforcement agencies. These statistics are based on samples analyzed and may not be representative of all substances seized in Canada, nor of what drugs are circulating on the market. The data below represent the number of times a substance was identified in submitted samples. A single sample may contain more than one substance. Categorization of substances is based on the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
Analyzed Drug Report - January to March 2021
Pan-Canadian Totals for Opioids, Benzodiazepines, Stimulants and Cannabis
4,500 Stimulants
4,000 Benzodiazepines Cannabis 3,500 Opioids
3,000 s e l
p 2,500 m a s
f 2,000 o
r e b 1,500 m u N 1,000
500
0 AB BC MB NB NL NS ON PE QC SK Territories
Location
Pan-Canadian Totals for Opioids, Benzodiazepines, Stimulants and Cannabis
Number of exhibits
Location Opioids Benzodiazepines Stimulants Cannabis
AB 597 159 1,450 199
BC 1,457 242 1,563 309
MB 94 23 397 33
NB 39 22 280 50
NL 10 1 44 6
NS 55 16 214 52
ON 3,833 1,135 4,189 1,547
PE 3 0 13 2
QC 294 394 4,191 1,565
SK 78 17 273 33
T 2 2 43 16
Canada 6,462 2,011 12,657 3,812 Summary for Canada
A total of 27,259 samples (including cannabis) were submitted for analysis during that period which represents a 21% increase over the same period last year.
Drug Categories Stimulants Benzodiazepines Cannabis Opioids Other drug categories
Most Frequently Identified Controlled Substances
Substance Number of samples Substance Number of samples Methamphetamine 6,019 Methamphetamine 6019 Cocaine 5,514 Cocaine 5514 Fentanyl 4,337 Fentanyl 4337 Etizolam 1,253 Etizolam 1253 Heroin 638 Heroin 638 MDMA 612 MDMA 612 Hydromorphone 528
Hydromorphone Oxycodone 428 528
GHB 264 Oxycodone 428
Psilocin 222 GHB 264
1 2 3 … 12 Next Psilocin 222
Other controlled substances 2,873
Newly Identified Substances
Substance Number of samples Substance Number of samples Protonitazene 4 Bromazolam 4 Bromazolam 4 Protonitazene 4 1-cyclopropionyl-LSD 2 1-cyclopropionyl-LSD 2 Deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine 2 Deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine 2 4-AcO MALT 1 4-AcO MALT 1 Ethylpropyltryptamine 1 Deoxymethoxetamine 1 Flunitazene 1
Ethylpropyltryptamine Methallylescaline 1 1
Deoxymethoxetamine 1 Flunitazene 1
RAD140 1 Methallylescaline 1
1 2 Next RAD140 1
Other substances 2 Opioids
Number of Percentage of total Substance samples samples Substance Number of samples
Fentanyl 4337 Fentanyl 4,337 67.1%
Heroin 638 9.9% Heroin 638
Hydromorphone 528 8.2% Hydromorphone 528
Oxycodone 428 6.6% Oxycodone 428
Morphine 151 2.3% Morphine 151
Carfentanil 116 1.8% Carfentanil 116
Codeine 92 1.4% Codeine 92
Fentanyl Base 55 0.8% Fentanyl Base 55 Opium 52 0.8% Opium 52 O6- 24 0.4% O6-acetylmorphine 24 acetylmorphine Other opioids 41 1 2 3 Next
A total of 6,462 opioids were identified during that period where 70% were fentanyl or fentanyl analogues. From all samples containing heroin, 46% also contained fentanyl. Benzodiazepines
Number of Percentage of total Substance samples samples Substance Number of samples
Etizolam 1253 Etizolam 1,253 62.3%
Flualprazolam Flualprazolam 149 7.4% 149
Flubromazolam 149 7.4% Flubromazolam 149
Clonazepam 113 5.6% Clonazepam 113
Lorazepam 92 4.6% Lorazepam 92
Alprazolam 80 4.0% Alprazolam 80
Diazepam 46 2.3% Diazepam 46
Adinazolam 32 1.6% Adinazolam 32
Meclonazepam 26 1.3% Meclonazepam 26 Clonazolam 25 1.2% Clonazolam 25
1 2 Next Other benzodiazepines 46
A total of 2,011 benzodiazepines were submitted for analysis during that period which represents a 141% increase over the same period last year. Stimulants
Number of Percentage of total Substance samples samples Substance Number of samples
Methamphetamine 6019 Methamphetamine 6,019 47.5%
Cocaine 5,514 43.6% Cocaine 5514
MDMA 612 4.8% MDMA 612
MDA 215 1.7% MDA 215
Methylphenidate 79 0.6% Methylphenidate 79
Amphetamine 74 0.6% Amphetamine 74
Lisdexamfetamine 40 0.3% Lisdexamfetamine 40
Éphédrine 29 0.2% Éphédrine 29 Ethyl-heptedrone 19 0.1% Ethyl-heptedrone 19 Eutylone 14 0.1% Eutylone 14
1 2 3 Next Other stimulants 42
A total of 12,657 stimulants were submitted for analysis during that period which represents a 5% increase over the same period last year. Cannabis
Number of Percentage of Substance samples total samples Substance Number of samples
Cannabis (dried/fresh) 2,082 54.6% Cannabis (dried/fresh) 2082 Cannabis Concentrates 1,132 29.7%
Containing Cannabis 483 12.7% (solid/non-solid)
Phytocannabinoid(s) 115 3.0% Cannabis concentrates 1132
1
Containing Cannabis 483 (Solid/Non-Solid)
Phytocannabinoid(s) 115
Cannabis was identified in a total of 3,812 samples during this period. The determination of the THC level is not carried out in samples submitted in the form of edible products. Results of these samples are thus by default reported as solids / non solids containing cannabis. Note: Please refer to the Cannabis Regulations for category definitions (section Definitions - Act and Regulations). National Quantitatives Data
Powder Tablets Substance Number of quantitative exhibits Average % (weight/weight) Number of quantitative exhibits mg/unit
Acetyl Fentanyl 0 0.0 0 0.0
Carfentanil 8 0.3 0 0.0
Fentanyl 113 13.9 2 0.8
Furanyl Fentanyl 0 0.0 0 0.0
Cocaine (Crack) 13 61.2 0 0.0
Cocaine HCl 192 74.3 0 0.0
Heroin HCl 7 33.7 0 0.0
MDMA HCl 3 84.0 0 0.0
Meth HCl 51 90.2 0 0.0
Date modified: 2021-09-07