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Together We Can

Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment (iOAT)

Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) received funding from Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) to lead a project on Planning for the Appropriate Use of Prescription Heroin.

This project aimed to assist provincial governments and health authorities in determining whether supervised injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) programs should be expanded in Ontario for persons with severe opioid dependence. In addition, the project aimed to support the implementation of programs where appropriate by documenting system level processes, including training, and regulatory requirements that are necessary for successful implementation in Ontario and that reflect clinical and operational standards. Please see below for knowledge translation resources related to the project.

Quick links:

As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

AMHO has created a video to highlight the first of two iOAT programs available in Ontario. This program, located in Ottawa, is an evidence based and cost-effective medical intervention that is recommended for people with severe opioid dependence who have not responded to oral opioid agonist treatment (i.e., buprenorphine/naloxone and or methadone) or for whom oral opioid agonist treatment is not appropriate. This video showcases the increasing need for effective interventions from the perspective of both stakeholders and people with lived experience in Ottawa. Watch the video below.

Please direct any questions related to the project or about project evaluation to policy@amho.ca.

Snapshot: Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment (iOAT) in Ontario – English

In the four years between 2016 and 2019, more than 15,400 people died from opioid use, making it the most enduring public health crises in recent Canadian history. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the opioid poisoning crisis in Ontario. Effective treatment for opioid dependence is one of several key strategies to address this crisis. Like other conditions, there are different forms of treatment available, depending on individual needs, the severity of issues, and how individuals respond to treatment. For individuals with severe dependence, injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) has been shown to be effective and safe. Despite this evidence, and the increasing harms from the opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, iOAT is not widely available in Ontario. This snapshot describes what we know about iOAT and focuses in on its availability in Ontario.

Download the Snapshot here:

As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

 

    Snapshot: Le traitement par agoniste opioïde injectable (TAOi) en Ontario

    En quatre ans, soit de 2016 à 2019, plus de 15 400 personnes sont décéder suite à l'usage d'opioïdes, ce qui en fait la crise de santé publique la plus durable de l'histoire canadienne récente1. La pandémie de COVID-19 a intensifié la crise d'empoisonnement d'opioïdes en Ontario. Pour gérer la crise, on compte notamment sur un traitement efficace contre la dépendance aux opioïdes parmi autres stratégies clés. Il existe, comme pour d'autres conditions, différentes formes de traitement selon les besoins individuels, la gravité des cas et la réponse au traitement. Dans les cas de dépendance sévère, le traitement par agoniste opioïde injectable (TAOi) s'est avéré sûr et efficace. Or, malgré les données probantes et malgré les conséquences dramatiques qu'entraîne la crise des opioïdes sur fond de pandémie de COVID-19, l'accessibilité au TAOi demeure limitée en Ontario. Voici en quelques lignes un état des lieux sur le TAOi et son accessibilité en Ontario.

    Download the Snapshot here:

    As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

     

      Snapshot: Effective medications for severe opioid dependence are not available in Ontario

      Injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) is a safe and effective treatment option for individuals with severe opioid dependence. Currently, the medications used for iOAT are either not publicly funded in Ontario or are not funded at the required doses needed to be effective. Without access to these medications, an evidence-based, life saving, and cost-effective treatment is virtually unavailable to those who need it most. This snapshot focuses in on why that is and what steps are needed to fill this critical gap.

      Download the Snapshot here:

      As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

       

        Snapshot: Les médicaments efficaces contre la dépendance sévère aux opioïdes ne sont pas disponibles en Ontario

        Le traitement par agoniste opioïde injectable (TAOi) est sûr et efficace pour les personnes ayant une dépendance sévère aux opioïdes. Or, à l'heure actuelle, les médicaments utilisés comme TAOi ne sont pas remboursés par le régime public de l'Ontario ou lorsqu'ils le sont, c'est à des doses trop faibles pour être efficaces. Le TAOi est un traitement effectif, fondé sur des données probantes, qui peut sauver des vies; pourtant il demeure pratiquement indisponible pour les personnes qui en ont le plus besoin. Nous tentons ici quelques explications et proposons des pistes de solution.

        Download the Snapshot here:

        As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

         

          Compendium of Resources to Support the Implementation of Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment (iOAT) in Ontario

          This compendium of resources was developed as part of a project led by Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO), with funding from Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). The goals of the project were to assist decision makers in determining whether injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) programs should be expanded in Ontario and, where that need is identified, to support system-level expansion of iOAT in the province.

          Download the Compendium here:

          As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

            Répertoire des ressources utiles pour la mise en œuvre du traitement par agoniste opioïde injectable (TAOi) en Ontario

            Le présent répertoire de ressources a été réalisé dans le cadre d'un projet mené par Dépendances et santé mentale Ontario (AMHO) grâce à une subvention du Programme de Santé Canada sur l'usage et les dépendances aux substances (PUDS). Le projet visait à aider les décideurs à déterminer s'il y a lieu d'élargir les programmes de traitement par agoniste opioïde injectable (TAOi) en Ontario et si oui, à faciliter l'implantation systémique du TAOi dans la province.

            Download the Compendium here:

            As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

              Planning for the appropriate use of prescription diacetylmorphine in Ontario

              This product provides a project summary of planning for the appropriate use of Prescription Diacetylmorphine in Ontario

              Download the Powerpoint here:

              As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.

                Planifier l'utilisation appropriée de la diacétylmorphine d'ordonnance en Ontario

                Planifier l'utilisation appropriée de la Diacétylmorphine d'ordonnance en Ontario résumé du projet.

                Download the Powerpoint here:

                As part of our evaluation for the project, AMHO is requesting the first name and email address of resource users to determine if they are interested in providing feedback on how they utilized these resources.