Grant: IPPH Travel Awards - CPHA Annual Conference

Canada is in a devastating opioid overdose crisis - 4 Ontarians die every day from overdose. While opioid agonist treatment provides protection from overdose-related mortality, retention is a major issue. Injectable opioid agonist treatment options are unavailable in all parts of the country. Safer Opioid Supply (SOS) programs are a novel, low-threshold response that aim to divert people injecting illicit fentanyl to daily-dispensed, pharmaceutical hydromorphone. We conducted a comprehensive chart review of a pilot SOS program, and explore the challenges involved in implementation in cities hard hit by the opioid crisis in Ontario. SOS aim to offer low-threshold option on a spectrum of care for people who are immediate risk of overdose from the illicit opioid supply. Implemented in primary care settings, SOS patients also receive comprehensive primary care and wrap-around harm reduction programming. Initial results are promising, and comprehensive research and evaluation is ongoing.