Opioid overdose crisis

The issue

For over a decade, people across this country have been dying at an increasing rate from opioid overdose. A contaminated and toxic illicit drug supply is a major driver of the opioid overdose crisis — with fentanyl contributing to a majority of opioid-related deaths. This public health crisis has gotten worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates are even higher in communities with greater ethno-cultural diversity. RNAO continues to advocate for a harm reduction approach that respects basic human dignity and the rights of people who use substances.

What the evidence says
opioid graph

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Take action

needles and safety
Action Alert
Sound the alarm on surging opioid overdose deaths
The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened our province’s opioid overdose crisis.
TAKE ACTION
naloxone kit
Action Alert
Prioritize mandatory naloxone training for police
Ontario needs all first responders carrying and trained in the use of naloxone, including police.
SIGN TODAY
opioid addiction
Action Alert
End the opioid overdose crisis in 2020
Send an urgent message to Queen’s Park. Demand that Ontario’s Minister of Health to ensure that a supervised consumption site is made available to every community that needs one.
SIGN TODAY

Social media

Get involved. Use the following hashtags on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to participate in the ongoing dialogue: #OpioidOverdose, #OpioidCrisis, #HarmReduction, #SaferSupply and #QPOR.

Opioid overdose policy documents

controlled drugs
New regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  

RNAO called on the federal government in our October 2020 submission to ensure people who use substances have the supports they need to reduce health and social harms, and remain safe. This includes increasing access to supervised consumption sites and services and working with provinces/territories to provide greater access to life-saving supervised consumption services
LEARN MORE

woman elearning
E-Learning: engaging clients who use substances

Learn about the foundational concepts and evidence-based practice approaches for engaging clients who use substances.

COMPLETE THE E-LEARNING MODULE

two bottles of pills
Accidental opioid overdoses: a public health crisis

Learn about the history of the opioid overdose crisis, the changing political landscape, and RNAO’s advocacy and four key recommendations. All levels of government have a critical role in responding with the urgency warranted by this public health crisis to provide access to essential health and social services and save lives.

READ RNAO’S POLITICAL ACTION BULLETIN

  • New regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
    controlled drugs
    New regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  

    RNAO called on the federal government in our October 2020 submission to ensure people who use substances have the supports they need to reduce health and social harms, and remain safe. This includes increasing access to supervised consumption sites and services and working with provinces/territories to provide greater access to life-saving supervised consumption services
    LEARN MORE

  • E-Learning: engaging clients who use substances
    woman elearning
    E-Learning: engaging clients who use substances

    Learn about the foundational concepts and evidence-based practice approaches for engaging clients who use substances.

    COMPLETE THE E-LEARNING MODULE

  • Accidental opioid overdoses: a public health crisis
    two bottles of pills
    Accidental opioid overdoses: a public health crisis

    Learn about the history of the opioid overdose crisis, the changing political landscape, and RNAO’s advocacy and four key recommendations. All levels of government have a critical role in responding with the urgency warranted by this public health crisis to provide access to essential health and social services and save lives.

    READ RNAO’S POLITICAL ACTION BULLETIN

Other policy documents related to the opioid overdose crisis:

POLICY LIBRARY