‘Safer opioid distribution’ as an essential public health intervention for the opioid mortality crisis – Considerations, options and examples towards broad-based implementation

•Canada experiences excessive opioid mortality, mainly from toxic opioid exposure.•Many interventions have been implemented, but are limited in reach and impact.•'Safer opioid distribution' (SOD) is a crucial preventive measure for overdose.•SOD needs to be implemented for a large, 'at-risk' opioid user population.•Other community-based public health interventions may guide SOD organization.