Opioids
Narcotics, or opioids, are often used to treat pain, including pain associated with work injuries. Yet, abuse of these painkillers has resulted in such a large increase in hospitalizations and deaths that the situation is called an “opioid epidemic.” IWH research looks at optimal opioid prescribing practices for physicians, as well as the use and effects of opioids related to the treatment of work-related injuries in particular.
Featured
At Work article
IWH study finds 7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain more than a year after injury
A high proportion of injured workers in Ontario experience persistent pain for well over a year after their work-related injury. According to an IWH study of workers' compensation lost-time claimants, 70 per cent of workers experience pain 18 months after their work injury.
Published: September 30, 2022
Journal article
Journal article
Opioid disposal practices of patients with life-limiting cancers in an outpatient palliative care clinic: a cross-sectional study
Published: Journal of Palliative Medicine, January 2023
Journal article
Journal article
Overdose and substance-related mortality after release from prison in Washington State: 2014-2019
Published: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, October 2022
At Work article
IWH study finds 7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain more than a year after injury
A high proportion of injured workers in Ontario experience persistent pain for well over a year after their work-related injury. According to an IWH study of workers' compensation lost-time claimants, 70 per cent of workers experience pain 18 months after their work injury.
Published: September 2022
Journal article
Journal article
Opioid utilization and management in the setting of stewardship during inpatient rehab care
Published: Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety, September 2022
IWH in the media
IWH, OCRC project delves into role of employment in opioid crisis
The number of people who die or who are being hospitalized due to opioids continues to rise, prompting the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) to launch a research project monitoring opioid-related adverse health events in order to identify the worker groups most at risk. Angela Gismondi reports.
Published: Daily Commercial News, August 2022
Journal article
Journal article
The community-based medication-first program for opioid use disorder: a hybrid implementation study protocol of a rapid access to buprenorphine program in Washington State
Published: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, July 2022
Journal article
Journal article
Development and testing of an opioid tapering self-management intervention for chronic pain: I-WOTCH
Published: BMJ Open, March 2022
Journal article
Journal article
Opioid safety recommendations in adult palliative medicine: a North American Delphi expert consensus
Published: BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, January 2022
Journal article
Journal article
Assessment tools for problematic opioid use in palliative care: a scoping review
Published: Palliative Medicine, May 2021
Journal article
Journal article
Changes in early high-risk opioid prescribing practices after policy interventions in Washington State
Published: Health Services Research, February 2021