Featured Publications
 

Jeremy Kalicum, Eris Nyx, Mary Clare Kennedy & Thomas Kerr. 2025. Perceived impacts of North America's first de-medicalized safer supply program Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 

This study was undertaken to explore perceived impacts of the DULF Compassion Club among its participants, as well as their perceptions regarding how the Club could be improved.

Methods: 43 participants completed an interviewer-administered survey which is utilized in this cross sectional analysis. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess the perceived influence of club membership on various factors, including drug use patterns, harm reduction practices, financial outcomes, housing stability, and overall well-being.

Results: Benefits from membership in the Compassion Club were reported, including reduced drug use (64.3%), decreased reliance on illicit markets (86.7%), lowered risk of overdose (90.0%), and increased likelihood of using sterile equipment (84.6%). Mental health (74.2%), physical health (63.3%), and overall well-being (70.0%) were also noted improvements. Suggestions for club improvement included extended operating hours, broader substance selection, and improved accessibility.

Conclusion: The reported reductions in drug use and improved adherence to harm reduction practices described herein underscore the perceived benefits of this unique program. Compassion Clubs represent a distinct strategy to mitigate overdose risk and enhance the well-being of drug users. These insights advance ongoing dialogues on overdose prevention strategies, urging further research to refine non-medicalized approaches within the evolving landscape of interventions.
 

Wilson, Gomes, Guta, Mak, Day, Penn. 2025. Letter to the Editor re Kahan M. Effectiveness and Public Health Impact of Safer Supply and Opioid Agonist Treatment: A Narrative Review With Recommendations CJA.

Kahan, M. 2025. Author's Response to: Wilson P, Gomes T, Guta A et al. Letter to the Editor re Kahan M. Effectiveness and Public Health Impact of Safer Supply and Opioid Agonist Treatment: A Narrative Review With Recommendations CJA.

Ali, et al. 2025. Experiences of stigmatization among people who use drugs in the initial year of British Columbia’s drug decriminalization policy: a qualitative study. IJDP. 

Ribeira de Lima, et al. 2025. Buprenorphine-Naloxone versus Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Drug and Alcohol Dependence 

Smith, et al. 2025. “I Don’t Want it in Any Form:” A Qualitative Study on Black Perceptions of Buprenorphine in the Fentanyl Era  Drug and Alcohol Dependence 

Masson, et al. 2025. Barriers to Buprenorphine Treatment Among People Experiencing Homelessness: A Qualitative Study from the Provider Perspective. Journal of Urban Health. 

Leung, et al. 2025. Optimizing placement of public-access naloxone kits using geospatial analytics: a modelling study. CMAJ. 

Ranger, Wilson, and Eagland. 2025. Evaluating the risks for nurses of fentanyl exposure and the harms of perpetuating exposure misinformation. Canadian Nurses Association. 

 del Pozo, et al. 2025. The Police Opioid Seizure Temporal Risk (POSTeR) model of increased exposure to fatal overdose IJDP.   

Kral, et al. 2025. Law Enforcement Drug Seizures and Opioid-Involved Overdose Mortality JAMA. 

Ledlie, et al. 2025. Pathways of care following opioid overdose among people with opioid use disorder: A multilevel cohort study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Infographic 

Fleming, Boyd, McNeil. 2025. Reimagining subjectivities in place: Necropolitical logics of safer supply and housing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside  Social Science and Medicine. 

Turner, Cook, and Graves. 2025. Xylazine: An emerging threat in obstetrics. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 

Myers, et al. 2025. The relationship between patient-centred care for substance use disorders and patient outcomes: A scoping review IJDP. 

Carter. 2025. Rhetorical misattunement: Alienation, hegemony, and infrastructure in drug war politics. Rhetoric Society Quarterly. 

Ruiz Flores López, et al. 2025. What sways public opinion? An experimental study on moral vs. evidence-based arguments for drug harm reduction. Drugs, Education, Prevention and Policy. 

Zolopa, et al. 2025. A scoping review of harm reduction practices and possibilities among indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 

 Nordgren and Richert. 2025. Desirable treatment or a problematic drug scene? – An interview study of patients’ and professionals’ views on the risks and benefits of liberalized opioid agonist treatment. Harm Reduction Journal. 

Moreheart, et al. 2025. Community-administered naloxone for overdose reversal: The role of sex worker-led programming and occupational violence in a community-based cohort (2018–2024). IJDP. 

Tadros, et al. 2025. Trade Tariffs on Canadian Pharmaceuticals—Implications for US Drug Supply and Costs | Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology. JAMA.

Kelley, Guerra, and Rao. 2025. Distributing Smoking Supplies: A Strategy for Harm Reduction Programs to Reach New Communities With Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention. Public Health Management and Practice.  

Lee, et al. 2025. Initiation and Dosing of Extended-Release Buprenorphine: A Narrative Review of Emerging Approaches for Patients Who Use Fentanyl. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation. 

 Wetteman, et al. 2025.“I don’t let anybody die on my watch”: perspectives on the intersection of community overdose response and emergency medical services among people who use drugs in Seattle, WA Harm Reduction Journal. 

Blouin, et al. 2025. HIV and HCV seroincidence, associated factors and drug use in people who inject drugs, SurvUDI network, eastern central Canada, 1995–2020 IJDP

Yang and Mishra. 2025. Diversion in Prescription Opioid Supply Chains: Evidence from the Drug Supply Chain Security Act | Manufacturing & Service Operations Management. Management and Service Operations.

International 

Misinformation about fentanyl exposure threatens to undermine overdose response 
Children Poisoned by the Synthetic Opioid, Fentanyl, has Risen in the U.S. – Eight Years of National Data Shows

New study tests mobile intervention tool for opioid use disorder

Pioneering brain implant study aims to treat severe alcohol and drug addiction 

Fewer deaths, new substances and evolving treatments in Philly’s opioid epidemic − 4 essential reads 

America's Opioid Crisis: States Where Drug Fatalities Are Declining Fastest

Opioid orphans: Grandparents struggle to raise children left behind  

Secretary Kennedy Extends Public Health Emergency to Combat Opioid Crisis 

New fentanyl data undercut White House’s portrayal of Canada’s role in U.S. drug crisis 

Are China, Canada, and Mexico really to blame for fentanyl? 

Trump team revokes $11 billion in funding for addiction, mental health care 

What to Know About Fentanyl 

How overdose prevention centers can change the game in the fight against the opioid epidemic 

My husband overdosed on fentanyl. Cruel immigration policies won’t fix the crisis 

Disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms linked to opioid addiction and relapse risk 

Remote support cut risk for relapse in Addiction Treatment
Deadly synthetic opioids 40 times stronger than fentanyl detected in Australian wastewater for first time  

Sierra Leone declared an emergency over a powerful synthetic drug but women were left behind 

National

End of substance use and addiction program funding ‘very, very short-sighted’
Benzodiazepines and xylazine: effects and harms of sedatives in the unregulated drug supply

Is Canada’s ‘fentanyl czar’ just about diplomacy – or could he actually help address the overdose crisis?   Experts concerned tighter border controls could impact overdose rates 

Key findings from the Health of Canadians report, 2024 

Hikma announces Health Canada approval of KLOXXADO® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 8 mg 

Fall and drug overdose deaths are main contributors as accidental deaths continue to increase, 2017 to 2022 

Evidence lacking to support involuntary addiction treatment

ASCME Trial: Major National Study Aims to Advance Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder
 

British Columbia 

Portrait of a Crisis: Living and dying through BC’s overdose emergency

Errors in UVic's response led to fatal overdose of student, independent report details   

B.C. overdose deaths drop 30 per cent, but researchers point to ‘emerging dangers’ 

B.C.'s chief coroner looks at new approach to tackling the overdose crisis  

Why do BC patients pay to access free opioid agonist treatment? 

Letters: Prescribed safer supply works   

B.C.’s sudden change to safer supply rules creating ‘dangerous situation’ for pharmacists, clinic workers on the front lines

B.C. drug decriminalization and safer supply associated with more overdoses, study shows   

B.C. to open new beds for Indigenous women with addiction, mental health needs 

Alberta

Red Deer overdose prevention site set to close after judge rules against extending injunction

Alberta moving ahead with forced addiction treatment bill, critics warn it could do more harm than good 

Patients will need extensive support after involuntary addiction treatment: Alberta agency

Alberta looking into shutting down supervised consumption site in Calgary: premier 

Lethbridge to host mayors’ conference on opioid crisis 
 

Saskatchewan

Overdose cases in Saskatoon remain high with 540 reported in March

Overdose alert issued for Saskatoon as April begins with surge in drug poisonings

Saskatoon’s Broadway BID addresses overdose crisis with free naloxone training  

‘This could be your neighbour, it could be your kids’: Call for naloxone training in Saskatoon   

Saskatoon front-line workers brace for new surge in drug overdoses 

Temporary closure of Saskatoon library branches amid overdose crisis needed but won't fix broader issues: CUPE 

Saskatoon's only supervised consumption site closing for 11 days to give exhausted staff a break

Saskatoon’s only supervised consumption site reopens

Government on hot seat over Saskatoon fentanyl crisis 

Saskatchewan’s largest addiction treatment centre now fully open
 

Manitoba

How Indigenous-led peacekeeping is making Manitoba First Nations safer 

HIV cases on the rise in Swan River, mayor blames needle distribution  

Funding awarded to examine racism and colonialism in Manitoba institutions impacting HIV/STBBI outcomes
 

Ontario - SCS closures and HART Hubs

‘It’s classist. It’s racist’: Ontario’s overdose death capital braces for more loss 

Supervised consumption centre takes Ford government to court over law forcing 10 sites to close 

The last days of Kitchener’s supervised drug-use site

Expect more public drug use after closing of supervised consumption site, officials warn 

Advocates argue people will die without consumption sites in Charter challenge of closures

A ‘significant issue’, says applicants’ lawyer, as Charter challenge hearing for Ontario’s new drug policy law approaches

Ontario consumption sites free to relocate, court hears, contrary to past statements 

Despite Court Win, Few Consumption Sites Saved From Ontario Shutdown 

They say controversial supervised consumption sites helped them in more ways than one. They fear what will happen when they close 

Ontario supervised consumption sites can remain open as judge grants reprieve, citing ‘significant harm’ of closures 

Supervised drug consumption sites win injunction, can stay open for now amid Charter challenge 

Ontario to push ahead with closing of nine supervised consumption sites despite injunction

Which of Ontario’s supervised drug consumption sites have the province targeted to close? 

“Our work is never done” - East Toronto supervised consumption site closes its doors amid shift in Ontario drug policy

Consumption and treatment sites in Kitchener and Guelph will close this week despite injunction being granted  

Guelph supervised drug consumption site now closed 

Peel’s supervised consumption site will close as several others across the province transition to HART hubs  

Brampton supervised drug consumption site closure ‘a step backwards’ in helping those living with addiction, say staff 

Uncertainty looms around treatment hubs promised by Ford government to replace supervised consumption sites

With no funding agreement, new Guelph HART Hub on hold  

Waterloo Region HART Hub yet to receive funding as Kitchener CTS looks to close 

Kitchener HART Hub will not be running at full operation: Community Healthcaring CEO 

As HART Hubs open across Ontario, the location of Thunder Bay's site remains uncertain  

HART hub services missing as government touts 'successful transition' 

Unclear when homelessness and addiction hubs will open in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie 

This northwestern Ontario town was denied a HART Hub, so it's creating its own model instead 

Timeline unclear, details still slim on new homelessness addiction treatment hub in Windsor 

Ontario opens homelessness and addiction hubs, replacing consumption sites near schools and daycares

Sarnia HART Hub site still eyeing spring opening 

London's new provincial treatment facility won't open April 1 as planned

First HART Hub set to open in Niagara 

Second HART Hub in Durham also being built in Oshawa 

Opening of Kitchener HART hub 'filling a need' left by CTS closure 

Ontario Opens First Nine Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs
 

Ontario - other news

Three people dead, 10 overdoses in less than two weeks in Nipissing and Parry Sound 

Newmarket woman among 3 fatal overdoses in 24 hours, prompting police warning 

Veterinary tranquilizers found in majority of Toronto fentanyl samples: drug testing service 

Ontario system ‘not ready’ to introduce involuntary addictions treatment

LPH urges extra caution amid increase in opioid toxicity

Safer supply clinic's move to Chinatown worries community 

Warning: Opioid Overdoses in Northumberland County 

Survivors of opioid epidemic gather in Owen Sound to mourn and raise awareness 

Drug inhalation once on shortlist to fix supervised consumption sites in Ontario: docs

Number of non-fatal overdoses Toronto paramedics respond to is declining, city data shows  
 

Québec
Décès attribuables à une intoxication aux opioïdes et décès reliés à une intoxication suspectée aux opioïdes ou autres drogues 

Des organismes de prévention des surdoses au pied du mur

The Territories

Yukon’s illicit drug market more expansive than previous years: Report   

A safe, stable place to stay for those returning from Southern recovery centres 

$7 million for Trauma Healing Lodge 

Atlantic

Opioid found in counterfeit pill seized in N.S. more potent than deadly fentanyl   

Drug ‘two-times more powerful than fentanyl’ found in Amherst, N.S., area 

Nova Scotia Health issues drug warning after ‘unexpected reactions’ to crack 

COMMENTARY: Time to make naloxone nasal spray available in pharmacies | PNI Atlantic News 

Organization encouraging Saint John residents to test their drugs amid rise in overdoses 

"An eye-opening experience" – Social Work STUdents Reflect on their Social Action Placement with AIDS NB 

Delivery of mental health, addictions services in NL long-term care is changing

Are 10 beds enough? Labrador City man calling for addictions treatment centre