Changing patterns of opioid initiation for pain management in Ontario, Canada: A population-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: The recent publication of a national guideline and quality standards in Canada have provided clinicians with new, evidence-based recommendations on safe, appropriate opioid use. We sought to characterize how well opioid initiation practices aligned with these recommendations before and following their release. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study among people initiating opioids prior to the release of national guidelines …