Browse the Evidence

• Abuse Potential, Alternatives, and Comparative Effectiveness
• Prevention and Management Strategies
• Safety
• Other Reports

Abuse Potential, Alternatives, and Comparative Effectiveness

• Tamper-Resistant Formulations of Opioids (Environmental Scan)
• Prescribing and Dispensing Policies to Address Harms Associated With Prescription Drug Abuse (Environmental Scan, Oct. 2015)
• Magnesium as an Alternative or Adjunct to Opioids for Chronic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines  (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2017)
• Topical NSAIDs versus Opioids for Acute Musculoskeletal Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness  (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Jan. 2017)
• Crushed Buprenorphine or Buprenorphine-Naloxone for Opioid Dependency: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, July 2016)
• Cannabinoid Buccal Spray for Chronic Non-Cancer or Neuropathic Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2016)
• Interventions for Atypical Facial Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2016)
• High-Dose Stimulants for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Mar. 2016)
• Combination Therapy for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Feb. 2016)
• Abuse and Misuse Potential of Dimenhydrinate: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Dec. 2015)
• Gabapentin for Adults With Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2015)
• Tramadol for the Management of Pain in Adult Patients: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Feb. 2015)
• Short- and Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines in Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Review of Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, July 2014)
• Gabapentin for Adults With Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2014)
• Abuse and Misuse Potential of Drugs for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary with Critical Appraisal, Aug. 2013)
• Abuse and Misuse Potential of Pregabalin: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary with Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2012)
• Tricyclic Antidepressants, Clonidine, Venlafaxine, and Modafinil for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults (Summary with Critical Appraisal, Mar. 2013)
• Combination Benzodiazepine-Opioid Use (Summary with Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2011)
• Bupropion for Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Harms of Misuse (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2010)
• Gabapentin Tablets Versus Capsules: A Review of the Evidence Regarding Appropriate Use (Summary with Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2010)
• Tramadol Compared with Opioids for Pain: A Review of Addiction Potential (Summary with Critical Appraisal, Jan. 2010)
• Analgesics for Surgical Third Molar Extraction: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Apr. 2018)
• Abuse and Misuse of Gabapentin: Clinical Evidence, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Oct. 2017)
• Suboxone for the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (Summary of Abstracts, Jan. 2013)
• Femoral Nerve Block for Older Adults with Acute Hip Fracture: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Apr. 2016)
• Bupropion for Depressive Illness: Abuse Potential and Clinical Practice Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Oct. 2010)
• Quetiapine Use in Correctional Facilities: Clinical Evidence, Abuse Potential, and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, July 2010)
• Pain Management in Prison Populations: Guidelines (Reference List, Mar. 2016)
• Gabapentin for HIV-Associated Neuropathic Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, Nov. 2015)
• Slow-Release Opioids for Postoperative Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, Nov. 2014)
• Tramadol for the Management of Pain in Adult Patients: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, Nov. 2014)
• Combination Benzodiazepine-Opioid Use: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Reference List, Mar. 2015)

Prevention and Management Strategies

• Buprenorphine hydrochloride (Probuphine) for the treatment of opioid drug dependence (Active Drug Review Submission) 
• e-Therapy Interventions for the Treatments of Substance Use Disorders and Other Addictions: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2018)
• Alpha2-Adrenergic Agonists for the Reduction or Discontinuation of Opioids or Opioid Substitution Therapy: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, February 2018)
• Opioid Formulations With Tamper-Resistance or Abuse-Deterrent Features — Products and Policies  (Environmental Scan, March 2017)
• Narcotics, Benzodiazepines, Stimulants, and Gabapentin: Policies, Initiatives, and Practices Across Canada, 2014 (Environmental Scan, Oct. 2014)
• Buprenorphine/Naloxone Versus Methadone for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence: A Review of Comparative Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Peer-Reviewed Summary With Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2016)
• Education and Assessment for Overdose Prevention: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2015)
• Discontinuation Strategies for Patients With Long-term Benzodiazepine Use: A Review of Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, July 2015)
• Neurotrophic Stimulation Therapy for the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse Disorders: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, July 2015)
• Tamper-Resistant Oxycodone: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Cost-Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2015)
• Antipsychotics in the Elderly (ODPRN drug class review, May 2015)
• Stepwise Approach for the Prescription of Opiates for Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, May 2014)
• High Dose and Watchful Dosing of Benzodiazepines: A Review of the Safety and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Nov. 2012)
• Opioid Trial Periods in the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2012)
• Watchful Dosing of Morphine or Morphine Equivalent Dosing in the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2012)
• Opioid Management Practices for the Prevention of Drug Diversion and Misuse: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2012)
• Prevention Strategies for Substance Misuse: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Jan. 2012)
• Metadol Liquid, Methadose, and Compounded Methadone in Patients Using Opioid Agonist Therapy: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Apr. 2018) 
• Strategies for the Reduction or Discontinuation of Opioids: Guidelines  (Summary of Abstracts, Apr. 2017)
• Tools for the Identification and Screening of Individuals with Addictive Behaviour Disorders: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Jan. 2016)
• Buprenorphine Formulations for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Reference List, Apr. 2018) 
• Discontinuation of Benzodiazepines and Other Sedative-Hypnotic Sleep Medication in Hospitalized Patients: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Reference List, Sept. 2015)
• Secure Prescription Pads for Prescribing of Medications Prone to Abuse and Misuse: Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, July 2015)
• Intranasal and Intramuscular Naloxone for Opioid Overdose in the Pre-Hospital Setting: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness (Reference List, Sept. 2016)
• Discontinuation Strategies for Patients With Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Reference List, Jan. 2015)
• Policies to Reduce Harms Associated With Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use: Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, Sept. 2014)
• Evaluation of Opioid Use for Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Clinical Evidence (Reference List, June 2012)
• Long-acting Opioids for Chronic Pain: Comparative Efficacy and Safety (Reference List, Oct. 2011)

Safety

• Navigating Opioids for Chronic Pain  (Infographic, 2017)
• Policies to Reduce Harms from the Concomitant Use of Opioids and Central Nervous System Depressant Drugs (Environmental Scan, April 2018)
• Long-acting Opioids for Chronic Non-cancer Pain: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Aug. 2015)
• Gabapentin for Adults With Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2015)
• Administration of Naloxone in a Home or Community Setting: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2014)
• Codeine and Acetaminophen for Pain Relief: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Apr. 2012)
• The Use of OxyNEO and OxyContin in Adults: A Review of the Evidence on Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2011)
• Safety of Zopiclone or Trazodone for Insomnia in Adults (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Feb. 2008)
• Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) Film versus Buprenorphine/Naloxone Tablets for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction: Comparative Safety (Summary of Abstracts, Jan. 2014)
• Transdermal Buprenorphine for Non-cancer Pain: Clinical Effectiveness and Safety (Summary of Abstracts, Sept. 2010)
• Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines: Clinical Effectiveness and Safety (Reference List, July 2015)
• The Use of Transdermal Buprenorphine in Adults: Safety (Reference List, July 2015)
• Policies to Expand Naloxone Availability: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, Sept. 2014)
• Drug Interventions for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (Reference List, Feb. 2014)
• Chronic Pain Treatment in the Prison Setting: Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Reference List, July 2010)

Other Reports

• Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Programs for Substance Use Disorder: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Nov. 2017)
• Rapid and Ultra-Rapid Detoxification in Adults With Opioid Addiction: A Review of Clinical- and Cost-Effectiveness, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Jan. 2016)
• Smoking Cessation Aids for Patients in Treatment for Substance Abuse: Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Aug. 2015)
• Mindfulness Interventions for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Substance Use Disorders: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2015)
• Yoga for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Substance Abuse: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2015)
• Nabilone for Non-chemotherapy-Associated Nausea and Weight Loss Due to Medical Conditions: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, Sept. 2014)
• Strategies for the Reduction or Discontinuation of Opioids: Guidelines  (Summary of Abstracts, April 2017)
• Optimal Evidence-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Addictions: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Jan. 2016)
• Team-Based Behavioural Support for Youth Experiencing Mental Health or Addiction Issues: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, Jan. 2015)
• Developmental Effects of In Utero Exposure to Prescription Drug Abuse in Infants and Young Children: Harms (Summary of Abstracts, Nov. 2014)
• Unused Medication Disposal Programs: Clinical Utility and Guidelines (Reference List, Apr. 2016)
• Metered Pump Aerosolizing Devices for Opioid Administration: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, Mar. 2016)