Healthcare Policy

Healthcare Policy 19(3 Pre-release) November 2023 .doi:10.12927/hcpol.2023.27228

Methadone Prescribing Regulation for Opioid Use Disorder in Canada: Evidence for an East/West Policy Divide

Chloe Campbell, Kellia Chiu and Abhimanyu Sud

Abstract

Opioid agonist therapy is a key element in the response to opioid-related harms in Canada. In May 2018, Health Canada rescinded the requirement for obtaining a federal exemption for methadone prescribing. This comparative analysis examined OAT policies and policy changes in response to this federal policy change. Policies and changes were regionalized: despite having lower rates of opioid-related harms, Eastern provinces had looser regulatory regimes compared to Western provinces, which became even looser after the federal policy change. Diverse knowledge and policy networks need to be fostered to bridge this East/West divide in substanceuse care policy.

 

 

About the Author(s)

Chloe Campbell, BHSc, Medical Student, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Kellia Chiu, BPharm(Hons), PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Abhimanyu Sud, MD PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Research Chair, Primary Care and Population Health Systems, Humber River Health, Toronto, ON

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