Population-based prescription opioid use rate in Newfoundland and Labrador: A retrospective cohort study

To report the rate of prescription opioid use rates over a 5-year period for the population of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada, and to highlight patient demographics within this cohort.

This retrospective cohort design used population-based pharmacy network prescription data from the province of NL to identify patients who were prescribed opioids from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2022.

A cohort of adult and pediatric patients who were being prescribed opioids from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2022, in NL.

Patients who were prescribed opioids from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2022. Prescriptions without complete data and medications taken for pain control that were not defined as opioids were excluded from the analysis. Buprenorphine, buprenorphine-naloxone, and methadone were also excluded from the analysis, as these are often prescribed as a treatment for opioid use disorder.

Between 27,344 (5.2 percent of NL population) and 57,562 (11 percent of NL population) opioid pain patients in NL were identified from 2017 to 2022, with 2018 having the highest number of opioid pain patients (11 percent). During this period, patients with opioid prescriptions averaged from 55 to 58 years of age. Data also showed more female users of prescription opioids than males, and there were no significant differences between urban and rural locations. The most prevalent type of prescriber during the period of observation was general practitioners (n = 1,131), followed by pharmacists (n = 476) and dentists (n = 237).

In comparison to national averages in Canada, NL had lower prescription opioid use rates. This study acts as a first step to better understand opioid use and prescribing practices in NL.