Opioid-related deaths in Ontario correctional facilities and penitentiaries (2009-2019)

The opioid crisis is a significant public health issue in North America that began in the 1990s with opioid-related deaths increasing each year. Although studies have been published regarding the incidence of opioid-related deaths in the general population, there is limited information regarding deaths in the prison population. To investigate the impact of the opioid epidemic in this vulnerable population, a retrospective study of all drug-related deaths that occurred in correctional facilities and penitentiaries in Ontario, Canada, between January 2009 and December 2019 was conducted. A total of 90 deaths were attributed to acute drug toxicity and the decedents ranged in age from 18 to 63 years and comprised 81 men and 9 women. The results of this study indicate the number of drug-related fatalities have increased by 375% (from 4 to 19) over the last 11 years. The detection of opioids in drug-related deaths has increased with fentanyl being the most frequently detected drug. Data also indicates the recent emergence of fentanyl-related analogues in this population. The results from this study provide valuable information about drug-related deaths in the Ontario prison system and provide insight into how the opioid crisis and the increased use of fentanyl and its analogues have affected this vulnerable population.

Automated summary

The opioid crisis has become a significant public health issue in North America since the 1990s, with an increasing number of opioid-related deaths each year. Limited information is available on opioid-related deaths in the prison population, thus, a retrospective study was conducted to investigate drug-related deaths in correctional facilities and penitentiaries in Ontario, Canada. The study found a 375% increase in drug-related fatalities in the past 11 years, with fentanyl being the most frequently detected drug. The emergence of fentanyl-related analogues in the prison population was also observed. These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of the opioid crisis and the use of fentanyl in this vulnerable population.