Varying circumstances surrounding opioid toxicity deaths across ethno-racial groups in Ontario, Canada: a population-based descriptive cross-sectional study

Original research
by
Campbell, Tonya J. et al

Release Date

2024

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

We sought to describe and compare characteristics and circumstances of opioid toxicity deaths across ethno-racial groups.

Findings/Key points

Black people and Asian people generally died younger than white people, and there was greater male predominance in deaths among Asian people, Latin American people and black people relative to white people. Cocaine contributed to more deaths among black people and Asian people compared with white people. Racialised people had a lower prevalence of opioid agonist treatment in the 5 years preceding death.

Design/methods

Population-based, descriptive cross-sectional study of all individuals who died of accidental opioid toxicity in Ontario, Canada between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2021. Decedents were categorised as Asian, black, Latin American or white.

Keywords

Mortality
Equity
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