New government figures show that nearly 4 000 Canadians died from apparent opioid overdoses in Canada last year.

Last year’s death toll is up about 25% from 2016.

The figures show fentanyl or fentanyl analogues were blamed for close to three-quarters of all overdose deaths.

So far this year, Hamilton paramedics has been called to 194 suspected opioid-related overdoses.