Publications

The CDPE adheres to the highest standards of peer-reviewed scientific research. To request a copy of any publication that is not open access, please email info@cdpe.org.

Prevalence and Correlates of Providing and Receiving Assistance with the Transition to Injection Drug Use

as part of Systematic Reviews on Drug Policy

Preventing the transition to injection drug use is an important public health goal, as people who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for overdose and acquisition of infectious disease. Initiation into drug injection is primarily a social process, often involving PWID assistance. A better understanding of the epidemiology of this phenomenon would inform interventions to prevent injection initiation and to enhance safety when assistance is provided.
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Impact Evaluations of Drug Decriminalisation and Legal Regulation on Drug Use, Health and Social Harms: A Systematic Review

as part of Systematic Reviews on Drug Policy

Given increasing interest in quantifying the impact of drug law reform, as well as a lack of systematic assessment of outcomes beyond adolescent cannabis use to date, we conducted a systematic review of original peer-reviewed research evaluating the impacts of (a) legal regulation and (b) drug decriminalisation on drug availability, use or related health and social harms. Our primary aim is to characterise studies with respect to metrics and indicators used. The secondary aim is to summarise the findings and methodological quality of studies to date.
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Recent Incarceration and Risk of First-Time Injection Initiation Assistance: A Prospective Cohort Study of Persons Who Inject Drugs

Published: July 1, 2020 as part of Preventing Injecting by Modifying Existing Responses (PRIMER)

Given the prevalence and harms of incarceration among persons who inject drugs (PWID) and their role in injection drug use initiation, this study aimed to investigate whether recent incarceration influences the likelihood PWID assist others in their first-ever injection.
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Expanding Access to Diacetylmorphine and Hydromorphone for People Who Use Opioids in Canada

Published: March 27, 2020 as part of Safer Opioid Supply Programs Evaluation in Toronto, Ontario

This commentary explores the current state of policy and practice for diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone as opioid substitution options in Canada, outlines the rationale for rapid expansion of access, and highlights clinical and policy changes that must be undertaken or the death toll will continue to rise.
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Evaluating Networked Drug Checking Services in Toronto, Ontario: Study Protocol and Rationale

Published: January 28, 2020 as part of Piloting and Evaluating Drug Checking Services in Toronto, Ontario

As a harm reduction intervention available in Europe since the 1990s, DCS provide information on the composition of drugs to their clients in order to facilitate more informed drug-related decision-making and to increase the capacity of individuals to avoid ingesting unanticipated toxic substances, which can lead to overdose and death.
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