A public health outbreak management framework applied to surges in opioid overdoses

Kieran Moore, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, MPH, DTM&H, FRCPC; Maximilien Boulet, BSc; Julia Lew, BSc; Nicholas Papadomanolakis-Pakis, BSocSc, MPA

doi:10.5055/jom.2017.0396

Authors

Kieran Moore, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, MPH, DTM&H, FRCPC
Maximilien Boulet, BSc
Julia Lew, BSc
Nicholas Papadomanolakis-Pakis, BSocSc, MPA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2017.0396

Keywords:

public health, outbreak, overdose, opioid, fentanyl

Abstract

Objective: Over the past decade, Canada and the United States have been facing an epidemic of harms from prescription opioids. More recently, opioid-naïve individuals have been exposed to illicit opioids through adulterated combination products. This has resulted in sudden surges of opioid-related mortality. A proactive public health solution is needed to prevent further death. We propose examining these surges in opioid overdoses as outbreaks and investigating them in a similar way to an outbreak of an infectious disease. An epidemiologic investigation model for opioid overdose outbreaks, that could be modified by other public health agencies,

is discussed.

Author Biographies

Kieran Moore, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, MPH, DTM&H, FRCPC

Medical Officer of Health, KFL&A Public Health, Program Director of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, KFL&A Public Health, Queen’s University; Professor of Emergency and Family Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Maximilien Boulet, BSc

Research Assistant, KFL&A Public Health, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Julia Lew, BSc

Research Assistant, KFL&A Public Health, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Nicholas Papadomanolakis-Pakis, BSocSc, MPA

Research Assistant, KFL&A Public Health, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

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