In the period between 2016 and 2021, more than 19,000 Canadians have died of overdoses related to the toxic street supply of drugs. Opioid-related deaths have further increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of a variety of factors, such as disruptions in wrap-around support services, reallocation of resources, and challenges to overall mental health and well-being. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Andrea Sereda joins us to talk about:The causes of the current drug poisoning crisis and similarities to the alcohol prohibition period in the 1920s;Some factors that contribute to the likelihood of people using opioids or substances;Distinction between problematic substance use, addiction, and similar concepts; and How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted opioid poisonings and harm reduction services.Podcast GuestsDr. Andrea SeredaPodcast HostsGordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Ben Umakanthan, HBSc, MPHReferences for Our Discussion London InterCommunity Health Centre: Safer Opioid Supply ProgramOpioid Crisis: The Other PandemicSubscribe to the NewsletterWhat if there was an easy way to receive timely information about public health and global health right to your inbox? Subscribe to the newsletter to stay in the loop about the latest news, live events, jobs, and professional development opportunities. Subscribe to ensure you don’t miss out: https://thepublichealthinsight.com/subscribe/. Tell A FriendIf you enjoy our podcasts, it would mean the world if you shared it on social media and tagged us. If you are not the social media type, we would appreciate it if you shared it with a friend or colleague who you think might enjoy the podcast. It helps us to get discovered by other people.