Ontario Drug Policy Research Network

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Ontario Drug Policy Research Network

The ODPRN is a network of researchers who provide timely, high quality, drug policy research

The ODPRN has the capacity to conduct research to determine the real-work drug utilization, safety, effectiveness, and costs of drugs on Ontario, and have development partnerships that allow us to engage in cross-provincial comparisons of drug safety and utilization

The ODPRN is comprised of four units:
1. Rapid Response Unit (RRU), whose primary function is to work with policy-makers to efficiently respond to research questons using linked population-level information

2. Stakeholder Advisory Panel (SAP), which collaborates with the RRU in fulfilling policy-maker research requests, as well as addressing their own research questions through traditional academic research

3. The Formulary Modernization Unit (FMU), whose function is to synthesize effectiveness, safety, contextual and econmic data on specific drug classes to generate policy recommendations for updating Ontario's drug formulary

4. The Knowledge Translation Unit (KTU), which disseminates the ODPRN's research findings to target knowledge users and stakeholders, including policy-makers, researchers, clinicians and the public

09/23/2025

Update to the ODPRN Ontario Opioid Indicator Tool!
https://odprn.ca/ontario-opioid-indicator-tool/

The following dashboards have been updated:
- Opioids for Pain: monthly data from Jan - March 2025
- Opioid Agonist Therapy: monthly data from Jan - March 2025
- Opioid-Related Harms: 2024 annual data & 2025 Q1 quarterly data
- Harm Reduction –The following indicators have been updated:
----- Pharmacy-Provided Naloxone: 2025 Q1 quarterly data
----- Community-Provided Naloxone: 2024 quarterly & annual data
----- Needles: 2024 annual data
- EMS Opioid Response: 2024 annual data and 2025 Q1 quarterly data

09/10/2025

New ODPRN study found that from Jan 2018 - Jun 2022, majority of alcohol toxicity deaths in Ontario occurred among men, people aged 25–44, in private residences, and involved other non-alcohol substances.

https://odprn.ca/research/publications/circumstances-surrounding-alcohol-toxicity-deaths-and-prior-pharmacotherapy-for-aud-in-ontario/

09/02/2025

The ODPRN is now accepting applications for our 2026 Drug Policy Student Training Program! Free access to online training and incredible networking opportunities with expert leaders in the field of drug policy.

To learn more and apply, visit: https://odprn.ca/about-us/student-training-program/

08/28/2025

Leading up to , we want to highlight research on Safer opioid supply (SOS). Here we found that SOS and methadone were associated with improved health outcomes, including reduced toxicities and healthcare use.

https://odprn.ca/research/publications/sos-and-oat-outcomes-ontario/

08/20/2025

Quarterly summaries of opioid-related mortality in Ontario up to Q1 2025 now available on the ODPRN website!

- Rates continue to be highest in northern PHU regions
- Fentanyl continues to contribute to the majority deaths

More information available at https://odprn.ca/occ-opioid-and-suspect-drug-related-death-data/

08/15/2025

NEW ODPRN study evaluated methadone treatment trends and found higher starting doses and an increased use of combination therapy with slow-release oral morphine.

https://odprn.ca/research/publications/methadone-monotherapy-vs-combination-therapy/

08/08/2025

Study Spotlight!

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 1 in 10 opioid-related deaths in Ontario involved solely pharmaceutical opioids, marking a shift toward unregulated drug supply involvement.

Read the full report: https://odprn.ca/research/publications/opioid-related-deaths-and-healthcare-use/

08/06/2025

NEW ODPRN study, building off of a previous report, shows that COVID-19 led to a rapid increase of opioid-related toxicity deaths within Ontario shelters and found notable shifts in the circumstances surrounding deaths.

Learn more at https://odprn.ca/research/publications/opioid-related-toxicity-deaths-within-ontario-shelters/

08/01/2025

Study Spotlight!

From 2018 to 2021, there were over 10,000 substance-related toxicity deaths — and many of those who died had recently interacted with the healthcare system before their death.

Read the full report at https://odprn.ca/research/publications/healthcare-interactions-prior-to-substance-toxicity-deaths-in-ontario/

07/29/2025

We are currently seeking a Research Coordinator II (Epidemiologist) for a temporary full-time position (18 months).

This position offers a dynamic and rewarding opportunity to contribute to impactful drug policy research in a collaborative environment.

Learn more at https://odprn.ca/get-involved/career-opportunities/

07/25/2025

Research Spotlight: 📊 Most people who died of opioid toxicity in Ontario between 2013-2020 had recent contact with the healthcare system, yet many missed opportunities for intervention remain.

🔗 Read the full report: https://odprn.ca/research/publications/stimulants-and-modes-of-drug-use/

Address

30 Bond Street
Toronto, ON
M5B1W8

Website

http://www.odprn.ca/

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