Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40824424›Full record

ArticleCanadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique2026

Trends in the dispensing of opioids for pain and concurrent benzodiazepine use among First Nations People in Ontario, Canada, from 2013 to 2021.

Alice Holton, Tianru Wang, Bisola Hamzat, Sacha Bragg, Bernadette deGonzague, Graham Mecredy, Tonya Campbell, Tony Antoniou, Lorrilee McGregor, Jonathan Bertram and 1 more

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Article in Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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2 · The registry

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Alice HoltonLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tianru WangICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bisola HamzatLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Sacha BraggChiefs of Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bernadette deGonzagueChiefs of Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Graham MecredyICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tonya CampbellLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tony AntoniouLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Lorrilee McGregorNorthern Ontario School of Medicine University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
Jonathan BertramDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tara GomesLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. Tara.Gomes@unityhealth.to.

Funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) 451385
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo investigate dispensing trends and the characteristics of First Nations People in Ontario dispensed an opioid for pain and concurrent benzodiazepine treatment.

methodsWe conducted a population-based serial cross-sectional study by quarter of registered (Status) First Nations People in Ontario who were dispensed an opioid for pain between April 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021. We reported quarterly trends in prevalent and incident opioid dispensing (rates per 1000 people), and the prevalence of concurrent benzodiazepine use among individuals receiving opioids for pain. For the final year (2021), we stratified rates by age, place of residence (within or outside First Nations communities), and sex.

resultsBetween 2013 and 2021, the quarterly rate of opioid dispensing for pain decreased by 25.0% among First Nations People in Ontario, from 74.7 to 56.0 per 1000 people. In stratified analyses for the year 2021, opioid use for pain was more frequent among First Nations People living outside versus within First Nations communities (118.2 vs. 91.2 per 1000, respectively) and among females relative to males (124.6 and 93.9 per 1000, respectively). Concurrent prescription benzodiazepine use among First Nations People receiving a prescription opioid for pain decreased from 20.9% in Q2 2013 to 16.7% in Q4 2021. In stratified analyses, concurrent use was more prevalent among females, adults aged ≥ 65 years, and First Nations People living outside First Nations communities.

conclusionOpioid analgesic prescribing patterns for First Nations People living in Ontario indicate a decrease in both overall prescribing rates and concurrent benzodiazepine use.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesDrug PrescriptionsIndigenous CanadiansPainPractice Patterns, Physicians'AdolescentAdultAgedChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOntarioAnalgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepinesConcurrent useFirst NationsOpioids for pain

Identifiers

PMID40824424
PMCPMC13076853

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.