COVID-19 Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed sustained pressure on Canada’s healthcare system and resources, including prescription drugs. In line with the ODPRN’s goal of being a leader in generating high-quality, relevant, and timely research of interest to clinicians, policy-makers, academics, and the general public, the ODPRN is conducting several projects examining the impacts of the pandemic on medication use and drug safety.

wdt_ID Title Publication Type Date Released Research Topic Additional Resources
wdt_ID Title Publication Type Date Released Research Topic Additional Resources
38 Ontario Prescription Opioid Tool (June 2021 update) Public Report 24 Jun 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Technical Appendix
61 A qualitative study of a publicly funded pharmacy-dispensed naloxone program Journal Article 07 Feb 2021 Qualitative Infographic
62 Prescription opioid characteristics at initiation for non-cancer pain and risk of treated opioid use disorder: A population-based study Journal Article 19 Feb 2021 Real-world Safety and Effectiveness
63 Dental opioid prescription characteristics and the risk of new, persistent use Journal Article 17 Mar 2021 Real-world Safety and Effectiveness Infographic
64 Changing circumstances surrounding opioid-related deaths in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic Public Report 19 May 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
65 Measuring the burden of opioid-related mortality in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic Journal Article 26 May 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends
66 Inequities in access to primary care among opioid recipients in Ontario, Canada: A population-based cohort study Journal Article 01 Jun 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Research Minute
67 Trends and outcomes of serious complications associated with non-fatal opioid overdoses in Ontario, Canada Journal Article 28 Jun 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
68 Impact of changes in opioid funding and clinical policies on rapid tapering of opioids in Ontario, Canada Journal Article 21 Sep 2021 Policy Analysis Research Minute
69 Trends in hospitalizations for serious infections among people with opioid use disorder in Ontario, Canada Journal Article 02 Nov 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
70 New opioid use and risk of emergency department visits related to motor vehicle collisions in Ontario, Canada Journal Article 11 Nov 2021 Real-world Safety and Effectiveness
71 Opioid use, related harms, and access to treatment among First Nations in Ontario Public Report 26 Nov 2021 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
72 The impact of proposed regulatory changes and rescheduling on low-dose codeine purchasing in Canada: a time-series analysis Journal Article 14 Dec 2021 Policy Analysis
73 Patterns of medication and healthcare use among people who died of an opioid-related toxicity during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Public Report 18 Jan 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
74 Characterizing safer supply prescribing of immediate release hydromorphone for individuals with opioid use disorder across Ontario, Canada Journal Article 03 Feb 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Research Minute
75 Association between increased dispensing of opioid agonist therapy take-home doses and opioid overdose and treatment interruption and discontinuation Journal Article 01 Mar 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
76 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of take-home doses of opioid agonist therapy in Ontario, Canada: A population-based time-series analysis Journal Article 07 Mar 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Research Minute
77 Duration of use and outcomes among people with opioid use disorder initiating methadone and buprenorphine in Ontario: A population-based propensity-score matched cohort study Journal Article 22 Mar 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Research Minute
78 Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection following initial COVID-19 vaccination: Population-based cohort study Journal Article 20 Oct 2022 Real-world Safety and Effectiveness Infographic
79 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of opioid agonist therapy discontinuation in Ontario, Canada: A population-based time series analysis Journal Article 27 Apr 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Research Minute
80 Responding to Ontario’s overdose crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic Journal Article 25 Aug 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Associated Report
81 Impact of the COVID-19 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act exemption on pharmacist prescribing of opioids, benzodiazepines and stimulants in Ontario: A cross-sectional time-series analysis Journal Article 12 Oct 2022 Policy Analysis Infographic
82 Outpatient purchasing patterns of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin in the USA and Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interrupted time series analysis from 2016 to 2021 Journal Article 14 Nov 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends
83 Contributions of stimulants and varying modes of drug use to opioid toxicity deaths across public health units in Ontario, Canada Public Report 29 Nov 2022 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
84 Opioid toxicity and access to treatment among adolescents and young adults in Ontario Public Report 27 Jun 2023 Descriptive and Utilization Trends Infographic
Please note that this report is NOT COMPLETE and is still in progress. Click below if you would like to continue.