Ontario Drug Policy Research Network

03/23/2026

NEW ODPRN study examined trends in safer opioid supply (SOS) initiation among First Nations Peoples with opioid use disorder in Ontario between 2019 and 2023. Uptake increased nearly five-fold over the study period, with similar rates between males and females and the highest rates among those aged 25–44 years. Most initiations occurred among individuals living outside of First Nations communities and in urban areas, highlighting differences in access across regions.

Learn more at https://odprn.ca/research/publications/2026-03-sos-among-first-nations-peoples-in-ontario/

03/09/2026

NEW ODPRN study found that prescriptions for stimulant medications for adults in Ontario increased during COVID-19. People starting these medications were more likely to be women and adults aged 25–34, and less likely to have their prescriptions initiated by psychiatrists. https://odprn.ca/research/publications/03-2026-prescription-stimulant-initiation-and-covid-19/

03/06/2026

New ODPRN study shows opioid agonist therapy (OAT) use in Canada increased between 2018 and 2022, especially in rural areas and in provinces experiencing rising opioid-related harms. The study also found differences in access across provinces and a growing shift toward buprenorphine treatment.

https://odprn.ca/research/publications/02-2026-oat-dispensing-trends-across-six-provinces/

Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) Unity Health Toronto

03/05/2026

New data from Toronto's Drug Checking Service shows a dangerous shift in the drug supply:

⚠️ 40%+ of fentanyl samples now contain benzos (highest since 2024).

⚠️ Dual Risk: Almost all also contain the tranquilizer medetomidine.

Details available at

What's in Toronto's drug supply? Toronto’s Drug Checking Service offers people who use drugs timely and detailed information on the contents of their drugs, helping them to make more informed decisions. This service also shares information on Toronto’s unregulated drug supply to inform those who...

03/05/2026

New university-based centre, led by director Mina Tadrous, set to build capacity in real-world evidence for drugs and health technologies.

02/17/2026

January data on -related deaths in from the OCC is now available.

🚨There were 224 suspect drug-related deaths reported in January 2026 in Ontario.

Data available for download at https://odprn.ca/occ-opioid-and-suspect-drug-related-death-data/

02/11/2026

Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the ODPRN recognizes and celebrates the incredible contributions of women on our team and across the research and scientific community. 👩‍🔬

Women play a vital role in advancing drug policy, strengthening healthcare systems, and improving health outcomes through evidence-informed research. At the ODPRN, we are proud to work alongside and learn from women whose leadership, innovation, and dedication help shape safer and more effective medication use across Ontario and beyond.

We also recognize the importance of supporting and inspiring the next generation of women and girls in science. Creating inclusive spaces and opportunities in research helps ensure diverse perspectives are reflected in evidence that informs healthcare decision-making.

https://www.womeninscienceday.org/

Join women experts, youth, and professionals in dialogues and discussion to put Science, Technology, and Innovation at the heart of sustainable development programs.

02/11/2026

02/09/2026

Can we modernize healthcare and save $65 million while maintaining quality care? 🏥💡

In Ontario, a small group of medications called biologics makes up a large portion of our drug spending. To help make our healthcare system more sustainable, the province introduced a "biosimilar switch policy" in March 2023 and that’s what we set out to study.

The Impact at a Glance:
📈 Uptake: Biosimilar use jumped from less than 20% to 96.5% across all clinical indications and drugs that were eligible.
💰 Savings: This shift saved the province $65.2 million in just over a year.

But this wasn’t just about the numbers. It was about doing it the right way.

“Before March 2023, biosimilar uptake varied widely, meaning we weren’t realizing potential system-level savings,” says Dr. Tara Gomes, scientist and co-author of the study. “An important finding of our study was that, beyond lower costs, the policy also preserved flexibility for the small but important group of patients who required medical exemptions. That balance between cost-savings and patient-centredness is exactly what good policy should achieve.”

By improving policy while supporting clinicians and keeping the focus on patient needs through medical exemptions, Ontario is proving we can have a more efficient healthcare system that still puts people first.

📄Read the additional Research Minute: https://odprn.ca/research/publications/01-2026-impact-of-biosimilar-switching-among-odb-recipients/

🔗Read full the study: https://www.ices.on.ca/publications/journal-articles/measuring-the-impact-of-the-substitution-of-innovator-biologics-with-biosimilars-on-uptake-and-costs-among-ontario-public-drug-benefit-recipients/

02/06/2026

Study Spotlight!

Prescription opioid dispensing for pain across Canada declined between 2018-2022, aligning with national efforts to promote more appropriate opioid use for pain management.

Read the full study: https://odprn.ca/research/publications/trends-in-prescription-opioid-use-for-pain-in-canada/

01/28/2026

New ODPRN study finds Ontario’s biosimilar policy achieved high biosimilar uptake and substantial cost savings, with most savings attributed to non-insulin biosimilars.

Learn more at https://odprn.ca/research/publications/01-2026-impact-of-biosimilar-switching-among-odb-recipients/

Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES)
Unity Health Toronto

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/