Opioid and Substance-Related Research

Opioids are a group of prescription drugs used to treat pain conditions; however the efficacy and safety of their use in treating chronic non-cancer pain has been widely questioned due to a lack of long-term studies, the availability of various opioid types and potencies on the market, and uncertainty on appropriate dosing. Given that Canada and the United States have the highest per capita consumption of opioids worldwide, this area requires further evidence. Alcohol and drug toxicities are also a major concern in Canada and globally as substance toxicity deaths have increased and polysubstance use complicates substance toxicity responses, resulting in higher fatality rates.

The ODPRN has conducted several population-based studies on the safe and appropriate use of opioids and other substances in Ontario by investigating the overall trends and geographic variation in opioid prescribing as well as opioid and substance-related deaths, and the impact of policy and education interventions on important patient outcomes.