Position Statement on Access to Opioid Agonist Treatment in Detention

Revised November 2019
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Addictions Medicine and Prison Health Member Interest Groups

The Opioid Overdose Crisis

More than 11,000 Canadians have died from an accidental opioid overdose since 2016.1 Opioid use disorder and non-medical opioid use are associated with other detrimental health outcomes including non-fatal overdose, neonatal abstinence syndrome, social disruption, and injection drug use and its associated harms.2–4 The complex nature of the opioid overdose crisis requires a multi-faceted, cross-sectoral response. Part of this response must include interventions in the Canadian correctional system.

• Position Statement on Access to Opioid Agonist Treatment in Detention