Opioid overdoses are killing a growing proportion of people experiencing homelessness in Ontario, a new study suggests
Opioid overdoses are killing a growing proportion of people experiencing homelessness in Ontario, a new study suggested Tuesday.
"That is a massive increase, you know, spanning the pandemic where accidental opioid-related overdoses became a much more significant element in the lives of people experiencing homelessness,” said Booth, an associate professor of nursing at Western University in London, Ont. During the first few months of that time period, 7.2 per cent of those who died — or 26 out of 359 people — were homeless. That percentage rose to 16.8 per cent — or 97 out of 578 people — in the last few months.But the disproportionate percentage of overdoses among those who are homeless clearly shows that housing is a "protective" factor, Booth said.The increasing toxicity of the drug supply over the last few years led to more overdose deaths, added Dr.
"I think that contributed to people using in higher risk situations that would more likely result in death," he said. The Ontario findings are in keeping with the harsh reality of overdose deaths in British Columbia and other parts of Canada, said Jade Boyd, a research scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use who was not involved in the study.She pointed to current Health Canada data, which says there is an average of 21 opioid toxicity deaths every day in this country.
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