Ontario will stop paying for higher-strength opioid medications through its Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program next January as part of its strategy to address the growing problem of addiction to the painkillers. Of the 201 overdose deaths recorded in B.C. Opioids such as fentanyl and morphine are often prescribed to patients with chronic pain, but can often lead to addiction and overdose deaths. More recently, British Columbia declared a public health emergency in April after a dramatic increase in the number of overdose deaths from opioids like fentanyl. A 2014 study found that opioids were related to one in eight deaths among young people in Ontario.

Source: CBC News July 25, 2016 17:10 UTC