study uncovers higher prescription rates of opioids in lower-income communities across canada
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according to a report from the federal government, canada averaged 67 emergency room visits, 15 hospitalizations, 99 emergency responses, and 20 deaths per day due to opioid-related incidences in 2024.
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a new study out of the university of waterloo is shining a light on a major discrepancy between the prescription of opioids in lower-income and higher-income areas.
researchers from the school of pharmacy in waterloo looked at available census data on household income and sex and found that people in lower-income communities were prescribed opioids almost three times as much as those in higher-income homes. in addition, women in those lower-income areas were prescribed at a higher rate than men.
“despite the perceived success in the reduction of opioid prescribing, inequalities persist,” dr. wasem alsabbagh, a professor in waterloo’s school of pharmacy, said in a press release. “our findings confirm that among lower socio-economic areas, women overall receive more opioid prescriptions. among men, those with lower incomes received more prescriptions than their counterparts in the higher income brackets.”
the study, income-based disparities in opioid prescription dispensing among public drug plan beneficiaries in canada from 2010 to 2018: a population‑based and sex‑stratified retrospective study, analyzed provincial drug plan data from 2010 to 2018 to further understand opioid prescription rates.
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british columbia, saskatchewan, and manitoba had data across all age groups, while alberta, ontario, newfoundland and labrador, and prince edward island only provided data for people 65 and older. quebec, new brunswick, and nova scotia do not track these records in a federal database.
the goal of the research is to bring awareness to the overwhelming gap in opioid prescriptions, and to encourage healthcare providers to find other solutions to make sure all communities are treated equally and effectively.
“pharmacists are an essential part of the primary care team,” alsabbagh said. “they can provide guidance to prescribers on individual prescriptions, appropriate dosages for each patient, inform policy decisions to address inequities and connect patients to support services, if necessary.”
according to a report from the federal government, canada averaged 67 emergency room visits, 15 hospitalizations, 99 emergency responses, and 20 deaths per day due to opioid-related incidences in 2024.
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