as part of Piloting and Evaluating Drug Checking Services in Toronto, Ontario

This article outlines the need for evidence-based reforms in Toronto’s drug supply approach in the context of fluctuations in potency and increasing lethality of the city’s unregulated opioid market, particularly regarding carfentanil.

as part of Policy Impact Unit

This report aims to inform Ontario’s cannabis retail sector by offering actionable steps to strengthen inclusion and diversity in Ontario’s cannabis industry based on available evidence and best practices in other jurisdictions with legal cannabis markets.

as part of T-DOT (Toronto Disparities, Overdose and Treatment), formerly OiSIS

Supervised consumption services (SCS) are effective at preventing overdose mortality. However, their effect on public safety remains contested. We investigated homicide rates in areas near SCS in Toronto.

The United States is grappling with a worsening overdose crisis fueled by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, with overdose deaths reaching unprecedented levels. While some propose tariffs on neighboring countries as a solution, such measures risk undermining regional cooperation without effectively addressing the adaptable networks behind drug trafficking. Instead, a comprehensive, evidence-based public health strategy is essential to tackle the crisis and its underlying drivers.

as part of Safer Opioid Supply Programs Evaluation in Toronto, Ontario

Safer opioid supply programs in Canada have come under intense scrutiny related to the perceived risk of diversion of safer opioid supply medications. We sought to explore the experiences and perspectives of safer opioid supply medication diversion with clients of a safer opioid supply program in Toronto, Canada.

On August 20th, 2024, the Ontario provincial government announced new legislation that would force the closure of most of Ontario’s supervised consumption services. This ban was announced without presenting any supporting scientific, clinical, or public health evidence. This report, is intended to fill this gap. Read about the range of public health and safety impacts these sites provide for our community.

as part of Systematic Reviews on Drug Policy

This systematic review assesses how sex and gender are considered in alcohol treatment research for youth, finding that most studies conflate these factors and rarely include trans or intersex participants, highlighting the need for more inclusive and precise research practices.

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on people who use drugs (PWUD) in major Canadian cities, highlighting challenges in meeting basic needs, accessing harm reduction services, and maintaining treatment continuity, with implications for future public health preparedness.

as part of Systematic Reviews on Drug Policy

This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of different ART regimens among pregnant women living with HIV at preconception or during pregnancy.

as part of Safer Opioid Supply Programs Evaluation in Toronto, Ontario

This study explores a novel therapeutic approach combining behavioral therapy with non-opioid medication to manage chronic pain, showing improved pain relief, emotional well-being, and daily functioning in patients.