Selected Research
Having a Voice and Saving Lives: A qualitative survey on employment impacts of people with lived experience of drug use working in harm reduction
Ongoing legal and social discrimination, and stigmatization of people with lived experience of drug use (PWLE) continues to contribute to overdose-related deaths in Canada. The involvement of PWLE working in harm reduction services has proven effective in decreasing drug-related harms among PWLE; however, there exist unintended negative impacts. PWLE working in harm reduction services risk overextending themselves beyond employment parameters (e.g., emotional labor) with few systems in place (e.g., employment advocacy) for support. While meaningful participation of PWLE in harm reduction programs is critical to addressing the overdose crisis, their labor in Canada’s overdose response commands further investigation and recognition. This paper examines some of the benefits and negative aspects of working in harm reduction among PWLE.
Addressing the Syndemic of HIV, Hepatitis C, Overdose, and COVID-19 Among People Who Use Drugs: The Potential Roles for Decriminalization and Safe Supply
People who use drugs (PWUD) face concurrent public health emergencies from overdoses, HIV, hepatitis C, and COVID-19, leading to an unprecedented syndemic. Responses to PWUD that go beyond treatment—such as decriminalization and providing a safe supply of pharmaceutical-grade drugs—could reduce impacts of this syndemic. Solutions already implemented for COVID-19, such as emergency safe-supply prescribing and providing housing to people experiencing homelessness, must be sustained once COVID-19 is contained. This pandemic is not only a public health crisis but also a chance to develop and maintain equitable and sustainable solutions to the harms associated with the criminalization of drug use.
At the request of the Government of Canada, CRISM rapidly developed guidance documents to address urgent needs of people who use substances, service providers, and decision makers in relation to the COVID‑19 pandemic. All documents was created with PWUD input, including members from the National Working Group.
This document provides specific advice to improve the safety of harm reduction workers during the pandemic.
The other 5 documents are available in both English and French at the CRISM website.
Changes in substance supply and use characteristics among people who use drugs (PWUD) during the COVID-19 global pandemic: A national qualitative assessment in Canada
People who use drugs (PWUD) may be at an increased risk of experiencing negative effects related to COVID-19. Border and non-essential service closures may have placed PWUD at an increased risk of experiencing unintended consequences regarding drug consumption and supply patterns, as well as related outcomes. However, the extent of these effects upon this population is unknown. The current study examined how COVID-19 has impacted substance use supply and use characteristics among a national cohort of PWUD in Canada.
Examining Substance Use Services and Treatment Barriers and Needs among People with Lived Experience (PWLE) in Ontario, Canada
Substance use is a complex issue, with rates of illicit and licit substances varying across Canada, and in Ontario, specically. Services and treatment options for problematic substance use remain vital. Recent initiatives to increase the effectiveness of services have been implemented, however, a disconnect remains between the availability and accessibility of these programs and the real-world experiences and needs of people with lived experience (PWLE). There is a lack of knowledge regarding barriers to accessing services and service needs, yet PWLE are best suited to identify these factors. As such, this study critically examined these issues among a cohort of PWLE in Ontario, Canada.