PHO Rounds: Opioid-related Toxicity Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ontario is facing increasing rates of opioid-related toxicity during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of 2020, The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN), The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario/Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, and Public Health Ontario (PHO) completed a report on patterns of health care utilization among people who experienced a fatal overdose in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. This session summarizes the findings (up to the end of December 2020) from this analysis and discusses implications for planning and practice to reduce overdose and overdose risk. The first presenter will share an overview of the report findings, followed by two presenters that will discuss intervention gaps and opportunities to better support people who use drugs. Participants engaged in a facilitated question and answer period to discuss findings and application to practices.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Describe health care utilization and prescribing among people who experienced a fatal overdose during the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Understand gaps in the health care system for people who use drugs
3. Identify opportunities to improve healthcare and public health practices that better meet the needs of people who use drugs

Presenters' names: Dr. Tara Gomes, Dr. Gillian Kolla and Jes Besharah