Trends in Opioid‐Related Poisonings and Mental and Behavioral Disorders From 2006 to 2022 Among a Large Cohort of Injured Workers in Ontario, Canada
- 1Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health Toronto Ontario Canada
- 2Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- 3Institute for Work & Health Toronto Ontario Canada
Abstract
Background: Work‐related injuries may increase risk for opioid‐related harms. Yet there remains a gap in our understanding of trends in opioid‐related harms over time among injured workers. We estimated trends in hospital encounters for opioid‐related harms among injured workers in Ontario, Canada from 2006 to 2022.
Methods: This study used linked workers' compensation (1983–2019) and hospitalization and emergency department (ED) (2006–2022) data from 1.7 million injured workers. Rates of opioid‐related poisonings and mental and behavioral disorders were estimated for all workers, as well as by age, sex, and occupational group. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze trends and estimate average annual percent change (AAPC) in rates.
Results: Rates of harms significantly increased across all age groups and sexes, with the highest increases among male workers and those aged 35–44. There was also variation by occupation. For poisonings, some of the largest increases in ED visits and hospitalizations were among workers in machining (ED visits = AAPC 18.5%, 95% CI 0.0%–40.5%; hospitalizations = AAPC 8.1%, 95% CI 3.4%–13.0%), and in construction trades (ED visits = AAPC 15.0%, 95% CI 10.4%–19.7%; hospitalizations = AAPC 6.5%, 95% CI 4.2%–8.8%). For mental and behavioral disorders, ED visits and hospitalizations were highest among workers in clerical work (ED visits = AAPC 12.4%, 95% CI 0.1%–26.2%; hospitalizations = AAPC 12.1%, 95% CI 7.9%–16.5%) and in materials handling (ED visits = AAPC 11.6%, 95% CI 1.8%–22.3%, hospitalizations = AAPC 14.2%, 95% CI 8.4%–20.3%).
Conclusion: Rates of opioid‐related harms significantly increased over time among injured workers in Ontario, with substantial increases within certain occupational groups. Findings suggest injured workers should be a priority in ongoing surveillance and policy responses.
Related
- Exploring the knowledge of community health workers about behavioral risk factors contributing to NCDs in Bushbuckridge, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
- Integration of Behavioral Health by Community Health Workers Into a Lifestyle Intervention That Addresses Reduction of Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Rural Communities.
- Delivering online cognitive behavioral therapy to address mental health challenges in correctional workers: a randomized controlled trial
- Knowledge, attitudes and care-seeking behaviours related to chronic disease management among migrant workers in Singapore: a cross-sectional study
- The Role of Lifestyle Behaviors in the Association Between Behavioral Procrastination and Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study of 92,184 Workers
BibTeX
@article{sritharan2026trends,
title = {{Trends in Opioid‐Related Poisonings and Mental and Behavioral Disorders From 2006 to 2022 Among a Large Cohort of Injured Workers in Ontario, Canada}},
author = {Jeavana Sritharan and Chaojie Song and Paul A. Demers and Fateme Kooshki and Nancy Carnide},
journal = {American Journal of Industrial Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1002/ajim.70136},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.70136},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trends in Opioid‐Related Poisonings and Mental and Behavioral Disorders From 2006 to 2022 Among a Large Cohort of Injured Workers in Ontario, Canada
AU - Jeavana Sritharan
AU - Chaojie Song
AU - Paul A. Demers
AU - Fateme Kooshki
AU - Nancy Carnide
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/14
JO - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
DO - 10.1002/ajim.70136
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.70136
AB - Background: Work‐related injuries may increase risk for opioid‐related harms. Yet there remains a gap in our understanding of trends in opioid‐related harms over time among injured workers. We estimated trends in hospital encounters for opioid‐related harms among injured workers in Ontario, Canada from 2006 to 2022. Methods: This study used linked workers' compensation (1983–2019) and hospitalization and emergency department (ED) (2006–2022) data from 1.7 million injured workers. Rates of opioid‐related poisonings and mental and behavioral disorders were estimated for all workers, as well as by age, sex, and occupational group. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze trends and estimate average annual percent change (AAPC) in rates. Results: Rates of harms significantly increased across all age groups and sexes, with the highest increases among male workers and those aged 35–44. There was also variation by occupation. For poisonings, some of the largest increases in ED visits and hospitalizations were among workers in machining (ED visits = AAPC 18.5%, 95% CI 0.0%–40.5%; hospitalizations = AAPC 8.1%, 95% CI 3.4%–13.0%), and in construction trades (ED visits = AAPC 15.0%, 95% CI 10.4%–19.7%; hospitalizations = AAPC 6.5%, 95% CI 4.2%–8.8%). For mental and behavioral disorders, ED visits and hospitalizations were highest among workers in clerical work (ED visits = AAPC 12.4%, 95% CI 0.1%–26.2%; hospitalizations = AAPC 12.1%, 95% CI 7.9%–16.5%) and in materials handling (ED visits = AAPC 11.6%, 95% CI 1.8%–22.3%, hospitalizations = AAPC 14.2%, 95% CI 8.4%–20.3%). Conclusion: Rates of opioid‐related harms significantly increased over time among injured workers in Ontario, with substantial increases within certain occupational groups. Findings suggest injured workers should be a priority in ongoing surveillance and policy responses.
SN - 0271-3586
SN - 1097-0274
ER -