Ontario Expansion of Addiction and Harm Reduction Services
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2018/03/06
The province of Ontario is beginning to expand the axis to harm addiction and addiction services throughout the province. The latest data does represent the increase in opioid-related deaths. Year-by-year, the number of opioid-related deaths continues to rise in not only Ontario but across this large, underpopulated nation.
From January to October 2017, there were 1,053 opioid-related deaths. It was an increase of 52% from same range of time in 2016. In order to combat the opioid crisis, over 85 addiction and mental health providers throughout Ontario have begun to enhance the supports and treatment services for those with an opioid use disorder, or more properly a misuse disorder.
12 of those more than 85 are directed towards youth. More than 20 of those more than 85 are devoted to help with withdrawal management services. As well, more than 30 communities will be benefitting from expanded Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics in their communities.
As part of the Ontario’s Strategy to Prevent Opioid Addiction and Overdose, there will be a collaboration with Health Quality Ontario on three new opioid-related quality standards based on the most up-to-date evidence, and has been developed by people who have had addictions as well as clinical experts.
There will be a naloxone nasal spray as well as injectable kits available for free at participating pharmacies. There will be expanded public education on the access to naloxone as well as posters and brochures with various information about the prescription opioids.
More details from the release below:
Ontario has approved nearly $7 million in funding for seven supervised injection services. Five of these sites (three in Toronto and two in Ottawa) opened between August 2017 and February 2018. The province continues to accept applications.
Overdose prevention sites provide core harm reduction supports and services such as supervised injection and access to harm reduction supplies and naloxone.
On February 12, 2018, the first Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) opened in London, Ontario. The province continues to accept applications.
Health Quality Ontario and the Council of Academic Hospitals are helping to support the provincial rollout of the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine model, with funding from the province.
Over the next three years, Ontario is investing more than $222 million to combat the opioid crisis in Ontario, including expanding harm reduction services, hiring more front-line staff and improving access to addictions supports across the province.
References
Government of Ontario. (2018). Recognize and temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-naloxone-kits
free?_ga=2.77091733.1855539337.1512070906-126235441.1484859155.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. (2018, March 7). Ontario Moving Quickly to Expand Life-Saving Overdose Prevention Programs. Retrieved from
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2018/03/ontario-moving-quickly-to-expand-life-saving overdose-prevention-programs.html.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. (2016, October 12). Ontario Taking Action to Prevent Opioid Abuse. Retrieved from https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2016/10/ontario-taking-action to-prevent-opioid-abuse.html.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. (2018, January 11). Applications Now Open for Overdose Prevention Sites. Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/news/bulletin/2018/hb_20180111.aspx.
Public Health Ontario. (2018, March 7). Opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Ontario. Retrieved from https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/dataandanalytics/pages/opioid.aspx.
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