Using death investigation data to better understand the overdose crisis
- PMID: 38501678
- PMCID: PMC11092307
- DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.44.3.01
Using death investigation data to better understand the overdose crisis
Abstract
The collection of articles in this theme series of the journal presents results from a national chart review study of the death investigation files of people who died of acute toxicity in Canada between 2016 and 2017. This study endeavoured to better understand the characteristics of the people who died, the circumstances of their deaths and the substances involved. While information about the study and some of its findings have previously been published, we would like to share more about how the study came to be, the people involved and the value of collaborative efforts between coroners, medical examiners and public health practitioners.
Les articles réunis dans cette série thématique de la revue présentent les résultats d’une étude nationale d’examen des dossiers d’enquête sur les décès attribuables à une toxicité aiguë ayant eu lieu au Canada en 2016 et 2017. L’objectif de l’étude était de mieux comprendre les caractéristiques des personnes décédées, les circonstances de leur décès et les substances impliquées. Des données sur l’étude et quelques-uns de ses résultats ont déjà été publiés, mais nous tenions à fournir de plus amples renseignements sur le contexte dans lequel l’étude a vu le jour, les personnes qui y ont participé et l’importance de la collaboration entre les coroners, les médecins légistes et les professionnels de la santé publique.
Plain language summary
Timely and comparable data are essential to the development of a robust evidence base that public health professionals can use to address the evolving national overdose crisis and its drivers. Key to developing this evidence base is fostering collaborative relationships between multidisciplinary teams, including the public health sector and the coroner and medical examiner community.
Conflict of interest statement
The content and views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
References
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- Government of Canada. Ottawa(ON): Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy: overview [Internet] Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/canadian-d....
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- Rotondo J, VanSteelandt A, Kouyoumdjian F, et al, et al. Substance-related acute toxicity deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2017: a protocol for a retrospective chart review study of coroner and medical examiner files. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. :a protocol for a retrospective chart review study of coroner and medical examiner files.
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- PHAC. Ottawa(ON): 2022. Substance-related acute toxicity deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2017: a review of coroner and medi-cal examiner files; pp. a review of coroner and medi–cal examiner files. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/data-surveillanc....
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- Public Health Agency of Canada. Ottawa(ON): Opioid-and stimulant-related harms in Canada: September 2023 [Internet] Available from: https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimul...
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