Author: Samira Prasad

A new CMAJ report is highlighting the inadequate efforts to address opioid use among adolescents in Canada, stating that existing services need to be tailored to better meet the needs of young people.

A second CMAJ report co-authored by Dr. Tara Gomes gives insight into recent opioid-prescribing trends, showing that dispensing of opioids has decreased. Dr. Gomes shared with The Globe and Mail that while this is a positive trend, the recent also showed the concerning element of some practitioners outright refusing to prescribe opioids all together.

“Opioids have a place in clinical practice, but it’s really about making sure that when they are accessed, it’s required that people have tried other alternatives, and that they’re prescribed as low dose and short a time period as possible,” Dr. Gomes said.

Dr. Sean Rourke spoke with The Lethbridge Herald about the latest Healthbox launch in the Piikani Nation in Alberta. The free vending machines contain HIV self-tests, drug testing strips, pregnancy tests and socks and mittens.

“This offers an opportunity for people to come and have a low barrier way of getting things they need to take care of themselves, when it’s best for them and also to get it without judgement and stigma,” said Dr. Rourke.

This is Alberta’s second Healthbox, with the other one located in Siksika.

In contrast to the haste and investment the federal government has put behind mining projects, universal pharmacare has been approached cautiously and progressed slowly. MAP scientist and Canada Research Chair in Health Justice Dr. Nav Persaud spoke with the Toronto Star about the benefits universal pharmacare stands to provide, including economical development.

MAP scientist Dr. Sean Rourke spoke with the Canadian Press about the AIDS Committee of Toronto’s decision to close after 42 years amid soaring cases of HIV in Canada.

“Everybody should have a door that they can open for their care and support and treatment,” he said.

Dr. Rourke has spearheaded projects to change the way people across Canada access HIV testing.

MAP’s Navigator program pairs hospital patients who are homeless with an outreach counsellor—a “Navigator.” The Navigator gets to know the patient and connects them with the health and social support they need to break cycles of homelessness and poor health, and to move forward in securing housing that works for them.

Navigators April Aleman and Fred Ellerington, along with project lead Dr. Stephen Hwang, spoke with the Canadian Press about how the program came to be and what their day-to-day can look like.

The program started at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and thanks to the Even the Odds partnership with Staples Canada, has expanded to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, increasing the program’s reach to over 1000 patients served to date. The program will be launching at the University of Montreal Hospital Centre later this year.

Donovan Vincent, Public Editor for the Toronto Star spoke with MAP scientist Dr. Dan Werb as part of this op-ed on following the opioid toxicity crisis in Toronto. The article also explains the role of MAP’s Drug Checking Service, led by Karen McDonald, and the role it plays in monitoring the makeup of street drugs in the city.

Dr. Dan Werb spoke with CBC News about the reasons that could be behind the recent 17 per cent decrease in opioid overdose deaths in Canada. He notes that despite the decline, opioid toxicity still killed over 7000 people in the past year, highlighting the need for a regulated drug supply.

MAP’s Dan Werb and Hayley Thompson spoke with the Toronto Star about the recently observed decline in opioid overdose deaths in Toronto. The trend is believed to be the result of decreased potency in the supply of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Dr. Werb notes that while the relative reduction in fentanyl potency is encouraging, the volatility of the unregulated drug supply means “that could change in a minute”.

Dr. Sean Rourke, Our Healthbox lead, recently spoke with CBC following the launch of the first Healthboxes in the Northwest Territories. Two machines are currently operating, with plans to add more this fall.

On August 19, 2025 the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) announced the 47 new Fellows elected for 2025, among them are MAP scientists Drs. Jim Dunn and Kamran Khan.

CAHS recognizes excellence in health sciences and their Fellows reflect a rich and varied expertise. Election to Fellowship in the Academy is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community. It entails a commitment to serve the Academy and advance the health sciences across all of the Fellow’s disciplines.

Dr. James R. Dunn (Jim) is a MAP scientist and a Professor of Health, Aging & Society and Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University. He is the Senator William McMaster Chair in Urban Health Equity and Director of the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative. In 2025, he was awarded the CIHR-IPPH Trailblazer in Population and Public Health Award and the CMHC Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action. He has published over 100 papers in geography, public health, urban planning and epidemiology journals and shaped policies at all levels addressing the effects of income security, housing and neighbourhood built environments on health.

Dr. Kamran Khan is an internationally recognized infectious diseases physician, MAP scientist, Professor at the University of Toronto, and Founder and CEO of BlueDot. His research on outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging pathogens has revolutionized our understanding of epidemics in an interconnected world, while informing policy decisions during health emergencies. Dr. Khan’s entrepreneurial work focuses on the role of artificial intelligence and technological innovation to strengthen global epidemic surveillance and readiness for infectious disease emergencies. Drawing from his experiences as a clinician, scientist, and entrepreneur, he is a leading voice for fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Canadian health sciences.

“Election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences acknowledges outstanding contributions to the health sciences,” says Dr. Trevor Young, President, CAHS. “We are proud of these Fellows’ accomplishments, and we are honoured to welcome them to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.”