The Opioid Overdose Crisis in Ontario as a Public Health Emergency

Matthew Anderson, President and CEO for Ontario Health and Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner for Ontario discuss; The Opioid Overdose Crisis as a Public Health Emergency: What Could We Achieve by Applying Lessons from our Pandemic Response? Opioid-related deaths have risen dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, increasing by 76% over the 12 months after implementation of public health measures. The pandemic has contributed to this rise in opioid-related deaths and has worsened the tragic impacts of the opioid overdose crisis. The pandemic has also shown us what we can accomplish when we come together to address a significant public health crisis as a unified system. This discussion outlines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid-related deaths, shares examples of extraordinary efforts in Ontario’s pandemic response