Author: Samira Prasad

The prevalence of dementia among homeless people is almost twice as high as that in housed populations in Ontario, Canada, according to the results of a new study. Dr. Stephen Hwang spoke with Medscape about how research may underestimate the magnitude of the problem of dementia among homeless people. “Often, people experiencing homelessness don’t have extensive contact with the healthcare system, and so their condition may go undiagnosed,” said Dr. Hwang.

Premature deaths related to opioids in Canada doubled between 2019 and 2021, with more than one-in-four deaths among young adults aged 20–39 years, according to new research lead by Dr. Tara Gomes. She spoke with Hospital News about the findings and calls for targeted harm reduction policy. “Without adequate investments in widespread, accessible treatment and harm-reduction programs, and broader social supports like housing, these preventable deaths are having devastating effects on communities across the country,” says Dr. Gomes.

Opioid-related deaths doubled in Canada between 2019 and the end of 2021. The data shows a drastic jump amongst men in their 20s and 30s. Dr. Tara Gomes spoke with The Canadian Press about these findings from her most recent study.

The Toronto Star spoke with Dr. Tara Gomes about a new study published in CMAJ which looks at opioid overdose deaths across Canada between 2019 and 2021. The data showed that opioids were responsible for one in every four deaths among young adults between the ages of 20 and 39 during this time.

Dr. Sean Rourke recently spoke with the Toronto Star about the federal government’s decision to discontinue funding for HIV self-test kits in Canada. This comes during an alarming rise in positive HIV cases across the country.

Sudbury.com covered new MAP research looking at the differences between ethno-racial groups in Ontario when looking at circumstances surrounding opioid overdose deaths. The study, lead by PhD candidate Tonya Campbell, also looked at access to addiction services and harm reduction.

A small number of homeless patients make thousands of emergency room visits. Dr. Carolyn Snider and Dr. Stephen Hwang spoke with The Globe and Mail about the work being done to support people experiencing homelessness in the emergency department and cold weather-related injury research.

Lead author Tonya Campbell

Tonya Campbell, PhD candidate at MAP, spoke with the Toronto Star about new research highlighting the disproportionate impact that opioid overdoses are having on Black, Asian and Latin American drug users. “These findings highlight that more research is needed to understand the crisis among racialized people, and they also emphasize that racialized communities need to have these long overdue conversations around drug use and surrounding stigma,” says Campbell.

Two MAP scientists, Drs. Flora Matheson and Dan Werb, have recently been appointed five-year research chairs by Unity Health Toronto and the University of Toronto.

Dr. Flora Matheson has been named the St. Michael’s Hospital Chair in Homelessness, Housing and Health. She leads the Justice and Equity Lab, housed at MAP, where she investigates the links between health and criminalization/the justice system and examines risk factors for imprisonment. She was one of the first researchers in Canada to investigate and measure the strong relationship between problem gambling and homelessness. She and Good Shepherd Ministries co-developed and launched the first gambling-addiction program for people experiencing homelessness. Learn more about Dr. Matheson’s research

Dr. Dan Werb has been named the St. Michael’s Hospital Chair in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. He leads the Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation at MAP, which conducts extensive epidemiologic, implementation and policy research on addictions and drug policy, and works closely with governments, affected communities and civil society to guide effective and evidence-based policy responses to substance use. Dr. Werb has devoted his career to the development of effective solutions to protect health and human rights among communities affected by drug use. Learn more about Dr. Werb’s research

Dr. Sean Rourke spoke with CBC about the launch of Manitoba’s first Healthbox machine, which dispenses harm reduction supplies along with other hygiene items.