ArticleThe International journal on drug policy2022
Factors associated with 60-day adherence to "safer supply" opioids prescribed under British Columbia's interim clinical guidance for health care providers to support people who use drugs during COVID-19 and the ongoing overdose emergency.
Article in The International journal on drug policy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 32 citations in OpenAlex.
- Safer supply deprescribing during a toxic drug poisoning crisis in Vancouver, Canada.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2026Article
- Attitudes to Drug Policy in Australia, 2001-2022/23: What Does This Mean for Drug Policy Reform in Australia?Drug and alcohol review · 2026Article
- "With this you're not chained down to something": contrasting experiences of opioid agonist treatment and safer supply program participation among people receiving prescribed safer supply.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Opioid medication doses among safer supply clients: Current safer supply doses and previous OAT experience.Drug and alcohol dependence reports · 2025Article
- Law Enforcement Drug Seizures and Opioid-Involved Overdose Mortality.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Early experiences and impacts of a fentanyl powder safer supply program in Vancouver, Canada: a qualitative study.The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse · 2025Article
- Preferred pharmaceutical-grade opioids to reduce the use of unregulated opioids: A cross-sectional analysis among people who use unregulated opioids in Vancouver, Canada.The International journal on drug policy · 2024Article
- Acceptability and anticipated effectiveness of a safe supply of opioids, among people who inject opioids in King County, WA.The International journal on drug policy · 2024Article
- Effect of Risk Mitigation Guidance opioid and stimulant dispensations on mortality and acute care visits during dual public health emergencies: retrospective cohort study.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2024Article
- Factors associated with obtaining prescribed safer supply among people accessing harm reduction services: findings from a cross-sectional survey.Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- Article
- Safer opioid supply via a biometric dispensing machine: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators and associated outcomes.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2023Article
- Community partner perspectives on the implementation of a novel safer supply program in Canada: a qualitative study of the MySafe Project.Harm reduction journal · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimsIn March 2020, British Columbia issued Risk Mitigation Guidance (RMG) to support prescribing of pharmaceutical alternatives to illicit drugs, in order to reduce risk for COVID-19, overdose, and withdrawal among people who use drugs. This study evaluated factors associated with 60-day adherence to novel opioid alternatives prescribed at an inner-city health centre in Victoria, Canada.
methodsA chart review was conducted to collect data on sociodemographic information, medical histories, and follow-up services among all clients prescribed novel opioid alternatives from March 2020-August 2020 (n = 286). Bivariable and multivariable regression were used to identify independent and adjusted factors associated with 60-day adherence.
resultsOverall, 77% of 286 clients were still receiving opioids after 60 days of follow-up. Medications included hydromorphone (n = 274), sustained-release oral morphine (n = 2), and oxycodone (n = 9). The adjusted odds of 60-day adherence to novel opioid alternatives were significantly higher for those receiving a mental health medication (aOR = 3.49, 95%CI = 1.26, 11.00), a higher maximum daily dosage of RMG prescriptions (aOR = 1.03 per mg increase, 95%CI = 1.01, 1.04), and those with continuous receipt of OAT (aOR = 6.25, 95%CI = 2.67, 15.90).
conclusionsHigher dosages and co-prescription of mental health medications and OAT may help support better adherence to this form of prescriber-based "safer supply". Further work is needed to identify optimal prescribing practices and the longer term impacts of differing implementation scenarios.
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