Assessing a medical safer supply program for people with treatment-refractory opioid use disorder

The Safer Supply research project, led by Robin Lennox and Claire Bodkin, aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a medical safer supply program using prescription opioids for people with treatment-refractory opioid use disorder. Participants must be above 18 years old, residing in Hamilton, with ongoing opioid use while on appropriately dosed Opioid Agonist Treatment or unable to achieve a therapeutic dose before receiving a daily oral hydromorphone (“Dilaudid”) prescription. Enrollment was completed in December 2023 (n=50 in Safer Supply group; n=10 in Waitlist group) therefore data collection will be completed in December 2024 (chart review). The two groups allow for some comparisons between having access to a safer (opioid) supply and not. In addition to baseline surveys and chart review, interviews were conducted with both groups and coding the transcripts for qualitative analysis has begun. A patient advisory committee that offers content expertise has been established to better tailor the project to the target population.