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. 2021 Apr:90:103088.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103088. Epub 2020 Dec 23.

Evidence of increased Fentanyl use during the COVID-19 pandemic among opioid agonist treatment patients in Ontario, Canada

Kristen A Morin  1 , Shreedhar Acharya  1 , Joseph K Eibl  2 , David C Marsh  3
Affiliations

Evidence of increased Fentanyl use during the COVID-19 pandemic among opioid agonist treatment patients in Ontario, Canada

Kristen A Morin et al. Int J Drug Policy. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Amid the opioid crisis, the health care system is restructuring to prevent and treat COVID-19. Individuals in opioid agonist treatment (OAT) are uniquely challenged because of disruption to treatment, medication diversion, and isolation during the pandemic.

Methods: Between January and September 2020, we utilized the electronic medical record from a chain of 67 opioid agonist treatment clinics in Ontario, Canada, to examine routinely collected urine drug screen results of patients in opioid agonist treatment by Public Health Units.

Results: We present evidence of a 108% increase in the percentage of fentanyl positive urine drug screens from April to September (p< 0.001). During the same period, health regions in northern and southwestern Ontario, areas with a high concentration of rural communities, have seen the most notable increase in the percent of fentanyl positive urine drug screen results.

Conclusion: The use of fentanyl increased by 108% among OAT patients in Ontario during the COVID 19 pandemic. We argue that the persistent increase of fentanyl exposure over time, specifically in the OAT population, suggests that reduced monitoring may decrease OAT's effectiveness and negatively impact patient outcomes.

Keywords: COVID-19; Fentanyl; Opioid agonist treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations of Interest Dr. David Marsh maintains the following roles: Chief Medical Director at CATC (Canadian Addiction Treatment Center), opioid agonist therapy provider. Dr. Marsh has no ownership stake in the CATC as a stipendiary employee. We do not foresee any conflict of interest as data will be made freely available to the public. Neither the CATC nor the Universities can prevent the publication and dissemination of -knowledge. The authors have no conflicts declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Urine Drug Screen Results (January to September 2020).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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