Characterizing safer supply prescribing of immediate release hydromorphone for individuals with opioid use disorder across Ontario, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In response to the ongoing overdose crisis, some clinicians in Canada have started prescribing immediate release hydromorphone (IRH) as an alternative to the toxic unregulated drug supply. This practice is often referred to as safer supply. We aimed to identify and characterize patients receiving safer supply IRH and their prescribers in Ontario.

Methods

Using provincial administrative health data, we identified individuals with opioid use disorder prescribed safer supply IRH from January 2016 to March 2020 and reported the number of initiations over time. We summarized demographic, health, and medication use characteristics among patients who received safer supply IRH, and examined select clinical outcomes including retention and death. Finally, we characterized

SUBMITTER: Young S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9949899 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature