{"id":19790,"date":"2024-06-18T13:19:30","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T17:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ices.on.ca\/?post_type=news_release&p=19790"},"modified":"2024-06-18T13:19:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T17:19:31","slug":"surge-in-fatal-opioid-overdoses-in-ontario-shelters-report-finds","status":"publish","type":"news_release","link":"https:\/\/www.ices.on.ca\/fr\/news-releases\/surge-in-fatal-opioid-overdoses-in-ontario-shelters-report-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Surge in fatal opioid overdoses in Ontario shelters, report finds\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toronto, ON, June 18, 2024<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters more than tripled during the pandemic, accelerating more quickly than the number of opioid-related deaths occurring overall in the province over the same time, according to a new report<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers from the <\/span>Ontario Drug Policy Research Network<\/span><\/b> (ODPRN) at St. Michael\u2019s Hospital and <\/span>Public Health Ontario <\/span><\/b>analyzed<\/span> health data from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and ICES and found that there were 210 accidental opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters between January 2018 to May 2022, with the number of deaths more than tripling during the study period (48 before the pandemic versus 162 during the pandemic).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Statistics Canada <\/span>data shows<\/span><\/a> that the annual number of emergency beds in Ontario grew by only 15% (6,764 to 7,767) between 2018 and 2022.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who use Ontario\u2019s shelter system are not only facing housing instability, but also have complex healthcare needs and unique barriers to accessing treatment and harm reduction programs,\u201d says lead author Bisola Hamzat, an epidemiologist with the ODPRN. \u201cThis report underscores the disproportionate impact of the opioid crisis on this population.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trends in shelters differed from rest of Ontario<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When exploring the circumstances surrounding the overdose and death, the data showed that someone was present and able to intervene for only 1 in 7 opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters, which is lower than in Ontario overall (approximately 1 in 4). However, naloxone was administered most of the time when someone could intervene within shelters.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the week before death, nearly half of people who died within a shelter had contact with the healthcare system, and in the five years prior to death, almost 80% had a hospital visit related for a mental health diagnosis, which is much higher than 56% of people in Ontario overall.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several factors remained consistent with the rest of Ontario, including the rise of multiple substances contributing to death (such as benzodiazepines and stimulants), a greater tendency toward smoking and inhalation of drugs, and fentanyl from the unregulated drug supply being the most common driver of deaths.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a secondary analysis of hotels and motels, the researchers found that opioid-related overdose deaths followed similar patterns to those in shelters but began to decline toward the end of the study period in 2022. The researchers say that the rise in deaths was likely influenced by the rapid expansion of temporary hotel-based shelters early in the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Urgent need for improved response to crisis<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur report highlights the need for improved and expanded harm reduction approaches, overdose response, as well as staff training and supports within shelters,\u201d says co-lead author Tara Gomes, a scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael\u2019s Hospital and ICES, and a principal investigator of the ODPRN.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdditionally, improved connection to community-based healthcare, treatment programs, and mental health supports are needed for people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, in combination with efforts to address upstream factors such as more accessible housing, income and employment supports, and community-based social supports across the province.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe report highlights what we have witnessed the last few years in Timmins.\u202fIt demonstrates the need for comprehensive support across\u202fthe spectrum of care for unhoused community\u202fmembers, and of the importance of shelter design and management to ensure services are accessible and safe for people who use drugs.\u202fAn increase in deaths in the Timmins shelter system over the past two years serves as a stark reminder of this\u202fimportance,\u201d says Jason Sereda, President, Board of Directors: DIY Community Health Timmins.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The report, <\/span>\u201cOpioid-related toxicity deaths within Ontario shelters: circumstances of death and prior medication & healthcare use\u201d<\/span><\/i> was published on the <\/span>ODPRN website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About St. Michael\u2019s<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

St. Michael\u2019s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 27 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital\u2019s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael\u2019s Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Established in 2008, the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) is a research program based out of St. Michael\u2019s Hospital that brings together researchers, people with lived experience, clinicians, and policy-makers to generate evidence to inform effective drug policy development in Ontario.<\/span><\/p>\n

About Unity Health Toronto<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unity Health Toronto, comprised of Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph\u2019s Health Centre and St. Michael\u2019s Hospital, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About Public Heath Ontario<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Public Health Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all Ontarians and reducing inequities in health. Public Health Ontario links public health practitioners, front-line health workers and researchers to the best scientific intelligence and knowledge from around the world. For the latest PHO news, follow us on Twitter:\u202f<\/span>@publichealthON<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About ICES<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ICES<\/span><\/b> is an independent, not-for-profit research and analytics institute that uses population-based health information to produce knowledge on a broad range of healthcare issues. ICES leads cutting-edge studies and analyses evaluating healthcare policy, delivery, and population outcomes. ICES knowledge is highly regarded in Canada and abroad and is widely used by government, hospitals, planners, and practitioners to make decisions about healthcare delivery and to develop policy. For the latest ICES news, follow us on X, formerly Twitter: @ICESOntario<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Misty Pratt<\/span>
\nSenior Communications Officer, ICES
\n<\/span>Misty.Pratt@ices.on.ca<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam Miller<\/span>
\nManager, Media & Digital Strategy, Unity Health Toronto<\/span>
\ncommunications@unityhealth.to<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto, ON, June 18, 2024 \u2013 Opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters more than tripled during the pandemic, accelerating more quickly than the number of opioid-related deaths occurring overall in the province over the same time, according to a new report.\u00a0 Researchers from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) at St. Michael\u2019s Hospital and Public […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","migration-helper-automated":[],"migration-manual":[],"topic":[19,34,56],"class_list":["post-19790","news_release","type-news_release","status-publish","hentry","topic-marginalized-populations","topic-mental-health-and-addictions","topic-pharmacoepidemiology-and-drug-safety"],"acf":{"infographic":"","journal_article":"","research_report":"","atlas":"","research_program":[6746],"site":[6733],"ices_scientist":[1252,1353],"announce_or_event":"","video":"","iitn_type":"Article","iitn_title":"Opioid-related deaths tripled in Ontario shelters during pandemic: 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