Original research
by
Crabtree, Alexis et al
Release Date
2020
Geography
Canada
Language of Resource
English
Full Text Available
Yes
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
No
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Objective
Our objective was to assess prescription history in the context of postmortem toxicology among people who had a fatal illicit drug overdose in BC.
Findings/Key points
Our data show a high prevalence of nonprescribed fentanyl and stimulants, and a low prevalence of prescribed opioids detected on toxicology in people who died from illicit drug overdose. These results suggest that strategies to address the current overdose crisis in Canada must do much more than target deprescribing of opioids.
Design/methods
Toxicology results from drug overdose deaths involving 1 or more illicit drugs (n=2872), as identified by the BC Coroners Service in 2015–2017, were linked to the prescription drug histories of individuals. Substances identified in toxicology were considered prescribed if the individual had an active dispensation for a matching medication within 60 days before overdose.
Keywords
Overdose
Mortality
Evidence base
Safer supply
Outcomes
Illegal drugs
Stimulants
