Circumstances surrounding opioid toxicity deaths within shelters in Ontario, Canada, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based descriptive cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Introduction

Evidence suggests growing opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to characterise opioid-related toxicity deaths within Ontario shelters before and during the pandemic.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study of people who died of an accidental opioid toxicity, where the location of the incident (ie, toxicity) was within a shelter in Ontario, Canada, was conducted. The primary analysis was restricted to conventional shelter spaces as classified by the coroner (ie, excluding temporary COVID-19 emergency shelters in hotels). Characteristics, circumstances surrounding death and patterns of healthcare use preceding death in the pre-pandemic period (1 January 2018-16 March 2020)

SUBMITTER: Hamzat B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12306205 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature