Patients admitted to the hospital with an opioid overdose may benefit from long-term treatment to prevent withdrawal cravings and symptoms.
Patients may have better outcomes when an emergency room visit for an opioid overdose is used to initiate opioid agonist therapy, according to a study published this week. Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is considered useful Studies have shown that this is true for people addicted to drugs such as heroin, oxycodone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), fentanyl, and Percocet.
OAT therapy involves taking the opioid agonists methadone (Methadose) or buprenorphine (Suboxone). These are medications that help prevent withdrawal and reduce cravings for opioid drugs. Proponents of OAT argue that it helps stabilize the lives and reduce harm for people with opioid use disorder (OUD).
of Health Canada website Opioid agonist therapy states that long-acting opioid drugs are administered under the supervision of a health care provider. These drugs work more slowly and over a longer period of time in the body.
The CMAJ study represents scientists and physicians from the University of Toronto (University of Toronto): Tina Hu, Daniel McCormack, David N. Juurlink, Tonya J. Campbell, Ahmed M. Bayoumi, Pamela Leece, Jessica T. Kent, Tara Gomes Written by. ) School of Medicine, McMaster University Department of Family Medicine, Ontario Public Health Sunnybrook Institute, and University of T Emergency Medicine Department (Kent).
CMAJ stated that the purpose of this study was to assess the rate of OAT initiation following hospital encounters due to opioid toxicity in emergency rooms in Ontario and to determine whether the publication of the 2018 Canadian OUD Management Guidelines was associated with an increase in initiations. He said that it is important to determine whether or not there is.
The study, which included more than 20,700 hospital visits for patients with OUD with opioid toxicity, found that the median age was 35 years and just over 65 percent were male.
“Despite increasing prevalence over time, of those encountering opioid addiction in the hospital, only 18 patients received OAT within a week of discharge in early 2020. These findings highlight a missed opportunity to initiate treatment that is proven to reduce mortality rates for people with opioid addiction.” says the study.
“Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant public health problem with increasing prevalence worldwide,” the study said.
Research shows 26,690 opioid-related deaths from 2016 to 2021 It happened in Canada.
The study revealed an astonishing 26,690 opioid-related deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2021. In Ontario, two-thirds of these deaths were in people with OUD. Research shows that 1 in 219 Ontarians will receive treatment for OUD in 2021.
In Canada, opioid-related hospitalizations increased by 32% between 2016 and 2021.
Also in Ontario, opioid-related emergency department visits increased by 286%. Nearly 5% of patients who present to the emergency department with a non-fatal opioid overdose die within a year.
The report concluded that further efforts are needed across Canada to improve the initiation of OAT in acute care settings.
For a full copy of the study, please visit Available online here.
