Exploring the Impact of Housing-based Overdose Prevention Interventions on People who use Drugs in Vancouver – Year two

Canada is amid an opioid epidemic, with governments declaring overdose public health emergency. Drug-related overdose mortality in British Columbia reached a record high in 2017, with over 1400 deaths. In response, novel overdose prevention interventions (OPI) have been implemented, including: overdose prevention sites in which people can inject drugs under supervision; and, naloxone training and distribution (a medication that blocks the effects of opioids during an overdose). For the first time, these interventions are being implemented in emergency shelters and single room accommodations (SRA) housing, which provides shelter to more than 3000 people who use drugs (PWUD) in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside. This study will explore social-, structural-, and physical-environmental influences on the implementation and effectiveness of overdose prevention interventions in SRA housing and emergency shelters. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Thomas Kerr

Student:

Geoff Bardwell

Partner:

Pivot Legal Society

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: