Oviedo-Joekes, E., MacDonald, S., Chow, N., Goyer, M-E., Hudson, K. et al. 2024. 

Several resources were developed collaboratively with service users, providers, research team members, and partners across Canada to mobilize the knowledge produced through the Diversifying Opioid Prescription Programs Project: The report highlights the need for diversified approaches to OAT, iOAT, and prescribed alternatives to strengthen OUD care nationwide. The checklists provide practical, actionable steps for health authorities, Ministry of Health, College of Physicians, and College of Pharmacists. The checklists are tailor to BC authorities but adaptable for other health authorities, etc. The policy brief outlines best practices of person-centered care and diversifying opioid prescription programs. Also see resources from the Carries Project: Client Education Brochure  and  iOAT Take Homes Booklet

Key findings: Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada The most recent available data on overdoses and deaths involving opioids and/or stimulants from January 2016 to June 2024 in Canada, where available. 

Resources related to the Ontario Ministry of Health Announcement about CTS closures, HART Hubs, potential legislation - NSSCoP spreadsheet includes documents from the Ministry of Health, statements and media releases, letters of support templates and actions underway, a list of media coverage, and key messages (in progress). Note: this is not exhaustive. The spreadsheet permits comments, so please comment with additions. 

Upcoming Webinars

CATIE and Ontario Drug Policy Research Network: Healthcare Access Prior to Drug Toxicity Deaths

When: January 9th - 11:30-12:30 pm Eastern

More information and Registration HERE

Podcast

HIV Legal Clinic - Not a Crime:  The Terrible Impact of Canadian Drug Laws on Black and Indigenous Communities

 

Olding, M., Rudzinski, K., and Schmidt, R. 2024. Perspectives on Diversion of Medications From Safer Opioid Supply Programs JAMA Network Open.

Question  How and why is opioid diversion occurring in safer supply programs, and how may it be best managed?

Findings  In this qualitative study of 52 patients and 21 providers (prescribing clinicians and allied health professionals), diversion reportedly occurred through compassionate sharing to manage withdrawal and overdose risk, selling or trading medications to address unmet substance use needs, and medication loss due to social vulnerabilities. Programs developed mitigation strategies based on patients’ diverse needs and underlying reasons for diversion.

Meaning  These findings suggest diversion in safer supply programs may be best addressed by expanding medication options to better match patients’ substance use needs, alongside wraparound social supports.

Martignetti,L., Knight, R., Nafeh, F., Atkinson, K., et al. 2025. Motivations for and perspectives of medication diversion among clients of a safer opioid supply program in Toronto, Canada - ScienceDirect IJDP

Diversion in SOS pilot programs stems from personal motivations and structural factors. Expanding medication options and addressing poverty may reduce diversion in SOS programs. Diversion allows non-clients access to safer opioids but may have unintended consequences.
 

Barker, B., Norton, A., et al. 2025. Implementation of risk mitigation prescribing during dual public health emergencies: A qualitative study among Indigenous people who use drugs and health planners in Northern British Columbia, Canada - ScienceDirect 

Implementation and access to risk mitigation prescribing in Northern BC was limited, with region-specific applicability challenges and a health service delivery model that was not able to sufficiently meet the unique service needs of IPWUD. Demonstrating Northern ingenuity, peer groups, harm reduction community champions, and telehealth services were identified as stopgap measures that promoted access and reduced inequitable implementation within the region.

“Before medically advised” departure from hospital and subsequent drug overdose: a population-based cohort study | CMAJ 

Wound-associated agents in the unregulated drug supply: Evidence from a statewide drug checking program - ScienceDirect 

“It always needs a higher level of care than what I can provide”: Practical, ethical, and administrative tensions arising from the integration of wound care services into syringe service programs in Maryland - ScienceDirect 

Management of opioid use disorder: 2024 update to the national clinical practice guideline | CMAJ 

Cost–benefit analysis of Canada’s Prison Needle Exchange Program for the prevention of hepatitis C and injection-related infections | CMAJ 

The burden of drug overdose deaths among correctional populations: implications for interventions | CMAJ

Criminalizing public space through a decriminalization framework: The paradox of British Columbia, Canada - ScienceDirect  

High-Risk Opioid Prescribing and Nurse Practitioner Independence | Health Policy 

Trends in School Mental Health and Substance Use Education 

Buprenorphine Injection Among Rural Persons Who Inject Drugs | Substance Use and Addiction Medicine | JAMA Network Open

Take-Home Naloxone, Release From Jail, and Opioid Overdose—A Piece of the Puzzle | Law and Medicine | JAMA Network Open

Capturing the Full Range of Buprenorphine Treatment Response | Substance Use and Addiction Medicine | JAMA Psychiatry   

International

UK to open first safe drug consumption room amid soaring deaths

Fentanyl Detected In Dolphins Shows How Far Opioid Epidemic Has Gone

How Drug Overdose Deaths Have Plagued One Generation of Black Men for Decades   

Opinion | Why Drug Overdose Deaths Are Dropping for Some, Rising for Others   

They Entered Treatment. Drugs, Overdoses and Deaths Followed.   

Donald Trump maintains fentanyl at Canada-U.S. border is a big issue. Is it?    

Fentanyl Almost Killed Michael Brewer. Now He Wants Snap to Pay 

‘Free and impartial’ addiction helplines paid secret commission by rehabs   

National

Nearly 3,800 opioid related deaths in Canada during first half of 2024 

Canada records almost 50,000 deaths from fentanyl since 2016  

British Columbia
B.C. repeals public drug use law after challenge and Ottawa's similar changes - Burnaby Now

Reversal of Bill 34 is a People’s Victory  

Drug deaths in B.C. are dropping. Here are some of the theories why  

Doctors say drop in drug deaths likely supply-related   

B.C. records 'significant decline' in toxic drug deaths, but reasons unclear | CBC News 

Alberta
Alberta opioid deaths continue to decline from record high last year   

Edmonton registers the highest opioid-related deaths in Alberta with more under review 

Poilievre’s plan to shut down drug consumption sites: Does data back it? - The Gauntlet

Advocates raise concerns as Alberta government replaces funding model for homelessness agencies 

Saskatchewan 
Sask. drug-related deaths declining in 2024 but reasons unclear, coroners service says   

A look at Saskatchewan overdoses ahead of the holidays  

Saskatchewan continues to see highest rate of HIV infection in Canada  

Report on decriminalization says Saskatoon police have 'embraced' rethink around drug possession 

Manitoba

Disraeli Freeway building pegged as home for Manitoba's 1st supervised consumption site   

Some Winnipeggers ‘disappointed’ with process for supervised consumption site  

Engagement around supervised consumption site will be ongoing, Wellness Centre says following criticism   

Voices of youth living with addictions highlighted in Manitoba child advocate report  

Manitoba orders health authorities to help clean up discarded needles   

Manitoba premier pledges to move people from encampments into housing  

Manitoba youth with addictions face limited services, long waitlists, geographic barriers: report

Ontario

Ford government's opioid strategy outdated, auditor general says  

Ontario shutting down supervised consumption sites without assessing harm to drug users: auditor   

Ontario's supervised consumption site law violates Charter, group says in legal challenge   

 Doctors and government are clashing over this measure that saves lives. Whose side is science on?  

As opioid crisis deepens, so does work with pregnant people in throes of addiction  

Can fentanyl exposure lead to overdose? Despite cases of police sent to hospital, research says it's unlikely   

Death and lies at Muskoka Recovery: How this ‘luxury’ Ontario rehab operates without oversight 

Opinion | John Tory: Doug Ford needs to follow the evidence on supervised consumption 

City of Hamilton aims to end tent encampments in parks, says mayor following court win  

Quebec
Opioid crisis eases in Canada, but Quebec numbers soared in 2024: new reports 

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Harm-reduction strategies not delivering results, says Yukon's outgoing top RCMP officer 

Atlantic Provinces - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Advocates hope to launch province’s first supervised consumption site in St. John's  

Her son needed help with addiction. Instead, he's spending Christmas in N.L. jail.

Nova Scotia drug overdose problem increasingly deadly   

Halifax hopes to launch civilian crisis response team in 2025  

Service providers in N.S. town call for more housing options after man dies in tent   

Moncton harm reduction advocate gets set for retirement   

Wait-time targets for addiction, mental health care not being met in N.B., auditor general says  

Community mourns 51 people who died struggling with homelessness, addiction this year