Patterns in substance use care among people who died from drug toxicities in Ontario

Presented in partnership with the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN).

The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network has produced a series of reports alongside people with lived and living experience of substance use and Public Health Ontario, to support community-based programs responding to the province’s growing drug toxicity crisis. This webinar focuses on the second report in the series, which examines patterns in substance use diagnosis, prescribing and treatment engagement among people who use drugs in Ontario. The first report, released last year, explored the role of polysubstance use in overdose deaths.

This webinar presents the report’s findings on previous substance use disorder diagnoses, recent non-fatal overdoses and treatment access among people who have lost their lives to accidental deaths involving opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants and/or alcohol.  People with lived and living experience will discuss how these findings can inform harm reduction interventions and improve access to healthcare and other supportive services for people who use substances.

Moderator: Christopher Hoy, associate director, Ontario Hepatitis C and Harm Reduction Program, CATIE

Speakers:

• Tara Gomes, program director, Ontario Drug Policy Research Network
• Ashley Smoke, Lived Experience Advisory Group, Ontario Drug Policy Research Network
• Tom Regehr, Lived Experience Advisory Group, Ontario Drug Policy Research Network

CATIE is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Health to deliver hepatitis C information and education for service providers in Ontario.