Occupational patterns of opioid-related harms comparing a cohort of formerly injured workers to the general population in Ontario, Canada

The role of work-related injuries as a risk factor for opioid-related harms has been hypothesized, but little data exist to support this relationship. The objective was to compare the incidence of opioid-related harms among a cohort of formerly injured workers to the general population in Ontario, Canada. Workers’ compensation claimants (1983–2019) were linked to emergency department (ED) and hospitalization records (2006–2020). Incident rates of opioid-related poisonings and mental and behavioural disorders were estimated among 1.7 million workers and in the general population. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95