Understanding the socioeconomic profile of people who experienced opioid overdoses in British Columbia, 2014 to 2016.

Abstract

Following the 2016 opioid overdose emergency declaration in British Columbia (B.C.), provincial stakeholders collaborated to link data that resulted in the B.C. Provincial Overdose Cohort. This database provides information about people who have experienced opioid overdoses to inform policy and intervention developments. Subsequently, Statistics Canada likewise constructed a cohort and integrated federal data to broaden the scope of the B.C. initiative. This provided federally sourced information about people's circumstances that was not otherwise available. The Statistics Canada British Columbia Opioid Overdose Analytical File further characterizes the socioeconomic circumstances of 13,318 people who experienced illicit drug toxicity deaths and non-fatal opioid overdoses in B.C. between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016. Statistics Canada linked federal data on immigration, employment, the justice system and social assistance receipt in the year of, and prior to, people's first overdose. During the observation period, most people (78%) had one overdose episode, rather than several. Seven percent were immigrants or temporary residents, 41% of whom arrived in Canada more than 20 years before their index overdose. Half (49.6%) had not received social assistance, and one-third (33.8%) were employed-primarily within construction (21% of those employed)-in the year prior to their index overdose. Most employed people (65.5%) experienced periods of unemployment within five years prior to their index overdose. Employment was more prevalent among people who experienced illicit-drug toxicity death (36.1%). About 60% of people had not had any formal police contact within the two years prior to the index overdose. This project demonstrated further added value to existing data by using this linkage approach and aligned with strategies underway by BC public health partners to provide cross-sectoral evidence to inform efforts to prevent and manage opioid overdoses.