In The News


Timing of methadone treatment for pregnant women does not increase health risks: study

A new study has found that women who began methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) during later stages of pregnancy did not have increased risks of many perinatal adverse health outcomes compared to pregnant women who initiated the treatment for opioid use disorder earlier.

October 31, 2018 | St. Michael’s Hospital | News Article | Associated Research


Prescriptions for stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall rising in Ontario, particularly for teen boys: report

Use of prescription stimulants has risen nearly 30 per cent in the past five years, a new study says, but girls are less likely to be taking the drugs than boys, meaning some cases of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be going undiagnosed.

September 25, 2018 | The Globe and Mail | News Article | Associated Research


Multimedia project Opioid Chapters highlights stories behind opioid statistics

A new multimedia project, titled the Opioid Chapters, delves beyond the data to share the personal experiences of those affected by the crisis.

September 6, 2018 | The Globe and Mail | News Article | Associated Research


Prescriptions led to 1 in 3 opioid deaths in Ontario in 2016, study says

About a third of deaths caused by opioids in Ontario in 2016 were among people who had been prescribed the drugs, a study published Wednesday shows.

August 29, 2018 | CBC News | News Article | Associated Research


Anticonvulsant with opioids tied to higher mortality

Treatment with pregabalin (Lyrica), an anticonvulsant also approved for several forms of chronic pain, was associated with an increased risk for opioid-related death when co-prescribed with opioids, Canadian researchers reported.

August 21, 2018 | Medpage Today | News Article | Associated Research


Monitoring opioid prescriptions across Ontario

Scientists at the ODPRN have unveiled an interactive tool that shows opioid prescription rates across the province, enabling users to quickly evaluate the impact of programs designed to deal with the opioid crisis.

July 4, 2018 | St. Michael’s Hospital | News Article | Associated Research


Better outcomes for patients using single-pill combination for blood pressure

People who are prescribed a combination pill to manage their high blood pressure are more likely to take their medicine as instructed and have better health outcomes than those who take the same medications prescribed as separate pills, according to a new study published today.

June 11, 2018 | Medical Xpress | News Article | Associated Research


Opioids Are now responsible for 1 in 5 deaths among young adults

In 2016, one in 65 deaths in the United States involved opioids — and among younger adults, that number skyrocketed to one in five, according to a new study.

June 1, 2018 | Time Magazine | News Article | Associated Research


Nearly a quarter of Ontario opioid prescriptions exceeded guidelines: study

Researchers say 23.9 per cent of initial opioid prescriptions in Ontario during that time had a daily dose of more than 50 milligram morphine equivalents.

May 16, 2018 | The Globe and Mail | News Article | Associated Research


Opioids account for 1 in 6 deaths among young people in Ontario: study

A new study finds a steep rise in opioid-related deaths in Ontario among teens and young adults. Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto say one out of six deaths among Ontarians aged 25 to 34 was related to opioids in 2015.

April 26, 2018 | CTV News | News Article | Associated Research


Use of ‘catastrophic’ drug plan surges in Ontario, study says

There are almost 130,000 Ontario residents who have “catastrophic” drug expenses and need government assistance to cover their costly medications, a new study shows.

March 26, 2018 | The Globe and Mail | News Article | Associated Research


ER exceeding opioid prescription guide: report

A new study from Mount Sinai hospital suggests that emergency departments may be helping to fuel Canada’s opiate crisis.

March 12, 2018 | CTV News | News Article | Associated Research

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