'Work-related injuries may pose a risk factor for opioid harms' say study authors
A recent study reveals that workers who have suffered a work-related injury face significantly higher risks of opioid poisoning and related harms, such as dependency and mental health disorders, compared to the general population. Conducted by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), the research analyzed health and compensation data for 1.7 million Ontario workers with lost-time claims between 1983 and 2019.
According to Dr. Jeavana Sritharan, OCRC scientist and co-author of the study, this aligns with emerging evidence from the U.S. “We’re seeing that work-related injuries may pose a risk factor for opioid harms, which has been suggested in some U.S. studies, but this is the first to comprehensively examine these risks in Canada,” she says.
The analysis of Ontario’s injured workers found that several occupational groups, such as construction, forestry and logging, and materials handling, had notably higher risks. Specific occupations, including nursing aides, janitors, and security guards, also showed elevated risk levels. "We are seeing consistent patterns in both this study and our previous publication, where these high-hazard occupations have higher rates of injury and consequently, higher risks of opioid poisoning," notes Sritharan.
The data used in this research came from the Occupational Disease Surveillance System (ODSS), which links records from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) with health-care data. This enabled researchers to track hospitalizations and emergency visits for opioid-related harms between 2006 and 2020. Despite these findings, gaps remain in understanding the full picture, particularly how workers progress from injury to opioid dependency and harm.
Dr. Nancy Carnide, a scientist at the IWH and co-author of the study, emphasizes that while injury is a contributing factor, other variables may also play a role. “Our study can’t determine if these workers were prescribed opioids, but it’s certainly a theory. However, factors such as the psychosocial work environment and norms around substance use could also be influencing these outcomes,” Carnide explains.
This is a significant public health issue for policymakers and workplace leaders. Carnide adds these findings can be used to guide targeted prevention efforts. “Our study provides an important signal of where harm reduction and prevention activities should focus—particularly in high-risk industries,” she says. Recent developments, such as Ontario's Naloxone legislation, which mandates naloxone availability in high-risk workplaces, reflect growing recognition of the need for workplace-based harm reduction strategies.
The study's findings are also meant to serve as a resource for organizations to enhance their injury prevention and worker support strategies. “We believe workplaces have the potential to be leveraged as a key player in reducing opioid-related harms,” Sritharan points out. She suggests that in addition to injury prevention, education about opioid use and harm, as well as greater support for workers struggling with substance use, are vital steps.
For safety leaders in high-risk sectors, the message is clear. “It’s important to understand that opioid-related harms aren’t confined to the aftermath of an injury. Workplaces should explore all avenues of prevention, from injury reduction to harm reduction measures like naloxone availability,” Carnide concludes.
By shedding light on the opioid risks associated with workplace injuries, this study provides critical insights for creating safer, healthier working environments across Canada.
