2021 AM Posters-Fighting the opioid crisis in a Canadian city A report on an

Fighting the opioid crisis in a Canadian city A report on an

Pdf Summary

The opioid crisis is a significant public health issue in Canada, with a high number of opioid-related deaths reported, particularly involving fentanyl. The city of Hamilton has been heavily impacted by the crisis, with higher rates of opioid-related deaths compared to the provincial average. Managed opioid programs (MOPs), which include the provision of injectable opioid agonist therapy (iOAT), have proven effective in other countries. Currently, MOPs exist in certain cities in Canada, but there are regulatory barriers to the expansion of these programs. The Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary currently only includes methadone and suboxone as medications for opioid agonist treatment, excluding important medications like hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine. A project in Hamilton aimed to advocate for the implementation of MOPs and iOAT in Ontario. The project involved meeting with Hamilton City Councillors to gain their support and writing a letter to the Ontario Minister of Health, requesting the addition of medications and ensuring universal accessibility of MOPs. The project demonstrated the effectiveness of medical trainees engaging in health advocacy and emphasized the need for advocacy to be recognized as a core competency in medical training. The project included attending Board of Health Meetings, conducting research, preparing a backgrounder, recruiting delegates, providing training, and meeting with city councillors. The outcomes of the project were positive, with support from city councillors and the passing of a motion at the Board of Health meeting. A draft letter was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for review. The project highlights the importance of collaboration, community consultations, and continued advocacy efforts to address the opioid crisis.

Keywords

opioid crisis

Canada

fentanyl

Hamilton

MOPs

injectable opioid agonist therapy

regulatory barriers

advocacy

health advocacy

Board of Health Meetings

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