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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.
Take action
Action Alert
Call on elected leaders to step up and end the opioid crisis!
Across this country, in urban and rural Canada and in every province and territory, the opioid overdose crisis rages on. Call on those elected to all orders of government to bring this public health crises to an end.
Presentation
RNAO's provincial election platform 2022
Nurses know what factors influence and shape people’s health. That’s why RNAO has developed a set of recommendations that cover the environment, the social determinants of health, nursing, care delivery and fiscal capacity.
Action Alert
Sound the alarm on surging opioid overdose deaths
The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened our province’s opioid overdose crisis.
Opioid overdose policy documents
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New regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
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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
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E-Learning: engaging clients who use substances
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E-Learning: engaging clients who use substances
Learn about the foundational concepts and evidence-based practice approaches for engaging clients who use substances.
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Accidental opioid overdoses: a public health crisis
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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.
Other policy documents related to the opioid overdose crisis:
- End the opioid overdose crisis in 2020, March 2020
- We must also remember those who didn’t survive, February 2020
- Letter: Expedite the passage of Bill 105, the Mandatory Police Training Act, 2019, December 2019
- Demand an end to overdose deaths in Windsor Action Alert, November 2019
- Re: EC7.10 Implementation of Coroner's Recommendations from the Faulkner and Chapman, September 2019
- Learning from the deaths of Grant Faulkner and Bradley Chapman, September 2019.
- RNAO Submission to the Toronto Board of Health: Saving Lives with a Public Health Approach to Drug Policy, September 2018
- Implementing Supervised Injection Services, February 2018.
- Engaging Clients Who Use Substances, March 2015
- Supporting Clients on Methadone Maintenance Treatment, July 2009
