Alarming Increase in Opioid-Related Deaths among Ontario’s Youth Highlights Urgent Need for Action

A recent report reveals a troubling trend in Ontario, as opioid-related deaths among teenagers and young adults tripled from 2014 to 2021, while drug treatment rates significantly declined. The research, led by the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network at Unity Health Toronto, found a surge in opioid deaths among individuals aged 15 to 24 during the first year of the pandemic, with 169 deaths recorded compared to 115 the previous year. Shockingly, the report shows that only 37.1 percent of young people who died from drug-related causes received any treatment for opioid use disorder within the last year, in stark contrast to the 48.6 percent treatment rate observed among adults aged 25 to 44.

The comprehensive analysis, conducted by the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, Public Health Ontario, the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, and non-profit research institute ICES, examined provincial health-care and demographic data from 2014 to 2021 for the 15-to 24-year-old age group. The findings paint a grim picture, with 752 young lives lost, 711 hospitalizations, and 5,401 emergency department visits during that period.

Startlingly, the use of medications for treating opioid use disorder plummeted by 50 percent over the seven-year period, and in-person residential treatment fell by a staggering 73 percent. Dr. Tara Gomes, a scientist at Unity Health Toronto and leader of the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, highlights the concerning disparity between the harms experienced by this demographic and their access to treatment, questioning whether the healthcare services provided are truly meeting their needs.

Of significant concern is the increased presence of fentanyl, detected in 94 percent of those who died from opioids during the pandemic, marking a 10 percent rise after COVID-19 emerged in the province. Additionally, the researchers discovered that only approximately half of the young people who died from opioids had an opioid use disorder, a departure from the overall provincial trend where about two-thirds of opioid-related deaths occur in individuals with this disorder. This discrepancy suggests that young people face greater barriers to accessing treatment, possibly due to physicians being hesitant to provide treatment options such as methadone or buprenorphine. Dr. Gomes also notes that patients may be reluctant to initiate a methadone regime that entails daily trips to the pharmacy and can last for years.

Dr. Gomes emphasizes that drug experimentation is an inevitable reality for young people, and the unregulated drug supply poses a significant risk, as the potency and composition of substances can be highly unpredictable. She expresses concern over the fact that occasional drug users face increased vulnerability to overdoses due to the potency of the supply. Highlighting the report’s findings, she calls for a comprehensive approach to address these issues, including the involvement of younger peer support workers and exploring alternative treatments like Sublocade, a monthly injectable form of buprenorphine that would reduce the need for daily pharmacy visits.

The report also indicates that approximately one in eight young people who died from opioids were homeless, shedding light on the intersection between substance abuse and housing insecurity. The authors stress the need for a new approach to tackle these challenges.

Dr. Dirk Huyer, Ontario’s chief coroner, expresses profound sadness over the deaths of teens and young adults from opioids, acknowledging the long-lasting impact on families and communities. Dr. Huyer emphasizes the necessity of policies that prioritize accessible resources, harm reduction services, and mental health support to prevent further opioid-related deaths among this vulnerable demographic.

In light of these alarming findings, the authors of the report call for increased harm reduction options, addressing systemic issues that contribute to opioid use, and implementing strategies.