Observational studyBMC public health2023
Association of drug overdoses and user characteristics of Canada's national mobile/virtual overdose response hotline: the National Overdose Response Service (NORS).
Observational study in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed.
- "We're here, and we're non-judgmental, we're here to save lives": stressors and fulfillment among overdose response hotline operators in Canada.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Out of Sight: Sex Differences in Public and Semi-Public Drug Use Settings Among People Who Use Opioids in Baltimore, Maryland.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Article
- Policy recommendations for overdose response hotlines and applications as a harm reduction tool: A commentary.Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique · 2026Article
- Accessing digital harm reduction services -exploring the impact of the "Here4UScotland" application.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Assessing attitudes towards elements of the overdose response hotlines/applications (ORHAs).Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Defining terminology and outcome measures for evaluating overdose response technology: An international Delphi study.Drug and alcohol review · 2025Article
- "It's something we're connected to": Acceptability and adoption of overdose detection technologies implemented in San Francisco permanent supportive housing.Journal of substance use and addiction treatment · 2025Article
- Predictors of overdose response hotline use for mental health and fatal overdose prevention.Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique · 2025Article
- "Oh, Another Overdose, for the Love of Pete": First Responder Perspectives on Overdose Response Technology.The western journal of emergency medicine · 2025Article
- Characteristics and Risk of Adverse Mental Health Events Amongst Users of the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) Telephone Hotline.International journal of mental health and addiction · 2025Article
- Perceptions of overdose response hotlines and applications among rural and remote individuals who use drugs in Canada: a qualitative study.Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice · 2024Article
- Perspectives of key interest groups regarding supervised Consumption sites (SCS) and novel virtual harm reduction services / overdose response hotlines and applications: a qualitative Canadian study.Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- "Expected to happen": perspectives on post-release overdose from recently incarcerated people with opioid use disorder.Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- Perspectives of Canadian Healthcare and Harm Reduction Workers on Mobile Overdose Response Services: A Qualitative Study.Substance use & addiction journal · 2024Article
- Accessibility gaps of physical supervised consumption sites in Canada motivating the use of overdose response technology/phone based virtual overdose response services: a retrospective cohort study.Lancet regional health. Americas · 2024Article
- Implementing Canada's first national virtual phone based overdose prevention service: lessons learned from creating the National Overdose Response Service (NORS).Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- Preference for hotline versus mobile application/countdown-based mobile overdose response services: a qualitative study.Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- Perspectives of healthcare workers on the integration of overdose detection technologies in acute care settings.Addiction science & clinical practice · 2024Article
- A cost benefit analysis of a virtual overdose monitoring service/mobile overdose response service: the national overdose response service.Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSeveral novel overdose response technology interventions, also known as mobile overdose response services (MORS), have emerged as adjunct measures to reduce the harms associated with the drug poisoning epidemic. This retrospective observational study aims to identify the characteristics and outcomes of individuals utilizing one such service, the National Overdose Response Service (NORS).
methodsA retrospective analysis was conducted using NORS call logs from December 2020 to April 2023 imputed by operators. A variety of variables were examined including demographics, substance use and route, location, and call outcomes. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated around variables of interest to test the association between key indicators and drug poisonings.
resultsOf the 6528 completed calls on the line, 3994 (61.2%) were for supervised drug consumption, 1703 (26.1%) were for mental health support, 354 (5.42%) were for harm reduction education or resources, and 477 (7.31%) were for other purposes. Overall, there were 77 (1.18%) overdose events requiring a physical/ in-person intervention. Of the total calls, 3235 (49.5%) were from women, and 1070 (16.3%) were from people who identified as gender diverse. Calls mostly originated from urban locations (n = 5796, 88.7%) and the province of Ontario (n = 4137, 63.3%). Odds ratios indicate that using opioids (OR 6.72, CI 95% 3.69-13.52), opioids in combination with methamphetamine (OR 9.70, CI 95% 3.24-23.06), multiple consumption routes (OR 6.54, CI 95% 2.46-14.37), and calls occurring in British Columbia (B.C) (OR 3.55, CI 95% 1.46-7.33) had a significantly higher likelihood of a drug poisoning. No deaths were recorded and only 3 false callouts had occurred. The overall drug poisoning event incidence to phone calls was 1.2%.
conclusionNORS presents a complimentary opportunity to access harm reduction services for individuals that prefer to use alone or face barriers to accessing in-person supervised consumption services especially gender minorities with high-risk use patterns.
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Registered trials
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