The ODPRN conducted a cross-sectional analysis among individuals aged 15 years and older to evaluate rates of opioid prescribing and opioid toxicity-related hospital and emergency department visits, by county in Ontario. The results are reported here and are illustrated in the map below. **Please note: over the past 3 months, the ODPRN has worked with CIHI and CCSA to further refine the definition of opioid toxicity in an attempt to generate a definition that can be used consistently across Canada. We have therefore revised our earlier report to align with the definition that we developed**
Overall key findings demonstrate:
- Rates of opioid prescribing and hospital visits related to opioid toxicity have increased across Ontario’s counties between 2006-2010 and 2011-2013 among younger (15-64) and older (65+) individuals.
- During 2011-2013, there was a 11-fold variation in annualized rates of opioid prescribing and a 7-fold variation in annualized rates of opioid toxicity-related hospital admission between counties.
- Opioid prescribing rates were found to be higher among younger beneficiaries, however rates of hospitalization and emergency department visits for opioid toxicity were found to be higher among older individuals.
View a copy of the public report
For more information on the distribution of opioid-related deaths by Public Health Unit between 2006 and 2010, please see our report here.