National study to treat prescription opioid dependence launches

published on February 17, 2016 in Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

A national study that will tackle the growing issue of prescription drug abuse was announced today. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of four sites across Canada.ë

CAMH’s Dr. Bernard Le Foll is leading the clinical trial that will compare and evaluate two treatments for prescription opioid abuse. The study is funded under the umbrella of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM). Dr. Benedikt Fischer is the Ontario lead of this initiative.ë

Read the full release issued by the Government of Canada below.ë

CAMH Media Contact:
Kate Richards
(416) 595-6015
[email protected]

Government of Canada invests in collaborative research tackling prescription drug abuse

February 16, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, today announced funding for research aimed at improving the health of people who abuse prescription drugs. More and more Canadians are putting their health at risk by intentionally taking medication, such as opioids, in a way thatëhasn’t been recommended by a doctor.ëThe Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), is investing $4.4 million to support four largeëregional teams comprised of researchers, service providers, and decision makers totackle this public health issue.ëëThe teams based in British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes collaboratively developed the first national study Optimizing patient centered-care: apragmatic randomized controltrial comparing models of carein themanagement of prescription opioid misuse (OPTIMA), conducted throughëthe Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM).