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Substance Use

Substance Use

Substance use refers to the consumption of alcohol, cannabis, opioids or other drugs. Substance use may lead to substance use disorders, overdose, infectious diseases or other complications. Reducing the harms associated with substance use can prevent injury, illness or death. We provide expertise and tools to help you plan substance use programs, research and policies.

Featured

Evidence Brief

Summarizes published literature examining the association between risk and protective factors, and both fatal and non-fatal drug-related overdoses.

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Published 25 April 2025

Interactive Report

Provides epidemiological information on substance use and harms data in Ontario. Users can explore the most recent 10 years of data for emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths. Results can be viewed by public health unit, age, sex, and in some cases, drug type.

Webpage
Updated 24 March 2025

Focus On

Overview of second-hand harms from alcohol, or alcohol’s harms to others (AHTO), which are negative impacts beyond the person consuming alcohol.

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Published 16 Jan 2025

Report

This report highlights the high prevalence of healthcare needs and use among Ontarians who died of a substance-related toxicity.

3.2 MB
Published 9 Jan 2025

Report

This project, led by Ontario Network of People Who Use Drugs and supported by Public Health Ontario, and Healthcare Human Factors, supports the development of a repository of non-stigmatizing visual images on substance use.

External Webpage

Data and Analysis

Learn about the Community Opioid/Overdose Capacity Building project (COM-CAP), a four-year project funded by Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addiction Program.

Webpage
Updated 19 July 2023

 

Event

PHO Webinar: Engaging Policymakers on the Commercial Determinants of Health: Lessons from Global Tobacco Control

This Public Health Ontario (PHO) webinar focuses on lessons for effective policy engagement on the CDOH drawn from experiences at the global, national and local levels.

See the Event Details

Related Information

External Resources

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Contact the Department

Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

hpcdip@oahpp.ca

Updated 25 April 2025
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