ODPRN Quarterly Newsletter | March 2024
Ontario Drug Policy Research Network
Provides timely, high quality, drug policy relevant research impacting societal outcomes & improving healthcare systems
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Recently Released | Upcoming Research | Resources | Career Opportunities | ODPRN in the News | Other News
This joint report by the ODPRN and Public Health Ontario builds on our?previous report, describing prior prescribing patterns of pharmaceutical drugs, diagnoses of substance use disorders, and access to treatment among people who died from an opioid, benzodiazepine, alcohol, or stimulant-related toxicity in Ontario, between January 2018 and June 2022. It found that many people had received substance use diagnoses and used healthcare services, but few engaged with evidence-based substance use treatment.
Across Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred amidst an ongoing drug toxicity crisis, with elevated rates of substance-related harms observed nationally. This study describes trends in opioid toxicities overall and among people with and without opioid use disorder (OUD) and?found?a surge in opioid toxicities across Ontario after the pandemic-related state of emergency, particularly among people with OUD.
The North American drug toxicity crisis has resulted in an unprecedented loss of life, with indications showing an increase in drug toxicity-related deaths among racialized individuals. This study examined characteristics and circumstances of opioid toxicity deaths across ethno-racial groups in Ontario, Canada between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2021 and found?marked differences in the risk factors, context, and patterns of drug involvement in opioid toxicity deaths across ethno-racial groups.
Safer opioid supply (SOS) programs provide prescription pharmaceutical opioids, often with supportive services, to people at high risk of experiencing harms related to substance use. This study examined outcomes experienced by clients participating in formal SOS programs and found?that SOS programs are beneficial to clients through measurable outcomes.
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are common mental health diagnoses. Naltrexone?is a primary medication in Ontario for treating AUD.?This study investigated the duration of naltrexone use among individuals in Ontario who initiated therapy for AUD and found persistence on naltrexone?is low, regardless of the setting of initiation.?
Children and youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?were significantly affected by public health restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on prescription stimulant use among individuals aged 0 to 24 in Ontario, Canada and found greater than expected?stimulant dispensing rates from June 2021 onward.
Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) with methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone is an effective treatment option for people with opioid use disorder (OUD).?This study examined treatment duration among people initiating methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone in Ontario, Canada, and found lower treatment retention among individuals treated with buprenorphine/naloxone relative to methadone.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant global public health concern on the rise.?This study examined trends in opioid agonist therapy (OAT) initiation rates for patients presenting to the ED or admitted to hospital with acute opioid toxicity, and found?OAT initiation remained?low, despite connection to healthcare for many in the days after an opioid toxicity even
Alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists and the risk of hospitalization or death ?in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a population-based study
Alpha-1 receptor antagonists are a safe and inexpensive class of drugs used by millions of patients worldwide for the treatment of hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study aims to investigate the association between exposure to alpha-1 antagonists and the risk of disease progression within 30 days among non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This study is currently in press at Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology.
Characteristics of opioid toxicity deaths among adolescents and young adults in Ontario prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic
Opioid-related mortality is a complex and multifaceted public health issue that has evolved and worsened over several decades. This study characterizes opioid toxicity deaths among adolescents and young adults in Ontario, Canada, prior to and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.?This study is currently in press at the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Opioid-related mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic across nine Canadian provinces and territories
In Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in the midst of a growing drug toxicity crisis with large increases in opioid-related harms observed nationally. This study describes trends in premature opioid-related mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic across nine Canadian provinces and territories. This study is currently in press at CMAJ.
Measuring the impact of the introduction of generic methadone in the Ontario Public Drug formulary
Effective September 29, 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Health added two new generic products for Methadone Maintenance Treatment reimbursement under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program. This study is assessing changes in dispensing of methadone products for opioid agonist therapy in Ontario after the listing of new generic formulations were added to the ODB formulary.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolved, so too did the impact of drug shortages on patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system.?This tool provides public access to interactive data on drug utilization in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. This update includes data up to December 2023.
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The Ontario Opioid Indicator Tool now includes complete 2023 data (yearly, quarterly, and monthly) with the following exceptions:?
Next month, a new dashboard will be added to the Ontario Opioid Indicator Tool on suspected opioid toxicities treated by emergency medical services (EMS), for Ontario overall and by regional base hospital programs. As a reminder, this tool provides public access to indicators of opioid use, opioid-related harms, and access to treatment and harm reduction in the province from 2012 onwards. All data is available for download.
This Town Hall was held in November 2023?and focused on hospital experiences of people who use drugs. During the Town Hall,?we heard recurring themes and suggestions that were raised by participants that we used to identify gaps and opportunities to improve care for people who use drugs in a hospital environment.?Read the report and listen to the audio clips from 6 of the individuals who shared live during the Town Hall.
This Town Hall was held in May?2023?and focused on experiences accessing treatment and services for depression. During the Town Hall, we heard recurring themes and suggestions that were raised by participants that we used to identify patient-oriented research needs and gaps or opportunities for improvement in the healthcare system.?Read the report and listen to the audio clips from 6 of the individuals who shared live during the Town Hall.
This role is a full-time temporary position located at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.The ODPRN is currently seeking a Post-Doctoral Fellow for a 1 year, full time (1.0 FTE) position, with the possibility of renewal. In this role, the Fellow will work primarily on research contributing to ODPRN’s body of work on the extent of opioid prescribing, opioid-related harm, and access to treatment and harm reduction strategies in Ontario. The Fellow will contribute to, and lead, peer-reviewed publications, public reports, and funding applications, and will have opportunities to present to and engage with numerous stakeholders (including government stakeholders, service providers, data providers, community-based organizations and people with lived and living experience).
The report, published by the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network and Public Health Ontario, highlights an urgent need to make treatment services more accessible, said Tara Gomes, one of the authors.?
March 5, 2024 | The Globe and Mail |?News Article?|?Associated Research
A new study has found only 1 in 18 people who ended up in hospital in Ontario after an opioid overdose were prescribed drugs known to help manage opioid use disorders in the following week — despite this mitigation strategy being recommended in Canada for years.
January 5, 2024 | CTV News |?News Article?|?Associated Research
According to a recent report by the Chiefs of Ontario and the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, hospital visits to treat opioid-related toxicity among First Nations people in Ontario doubled in 2021 and the rate of opioid-related deaths nearly tripled compared to 2019.
December 21, 2023 | CBC News |?News Article?|?Associated Research
Health Canada | February 29, 2024
CBC News | February 29, 2024
CBC News | January 31, 2024
CBC News | January 30, 2024
DATAC |?January 16, 2024
Global News | January 5, 2024