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The Urban Health Research Initiative (UHRI) was established in 2007 as a program of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Led by principal investigators Thomas Kerr, PhD, and Evan Wood, MD, PhD, UHRI is based on a network of studies that have been developed to help identify and understand the many factors that affect the health of urban populations, with a focus on substance use, infectious diseases, the urban environment and homelessness. More... What's New Vancouver Rat Project
UHRI is pleased to support the work of the Vancouver Rat Project, led by veterinarian Dr. Chelsea Himsworth. The goal of this project is to investigate and reduce the risk to human health posed by the rat population in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Click here to learn more about this important and informative study.
Critique of Lancet study of Vancouver’s supervised injection site and overdose: Authors’ response
Earlier this year, the UHRI research team published a study in the medical journal The Lancet (Marshall et al., Reduction in overdose mortality after the opening of North America’s first medically supervised safer injecting facility: A retrospective population-based study. Lancet, 2011; 377: 1429-37) that demonstrated a 35% reduction in overdose in proximity to Vancouver’s supervised injection site following the program's opening. This study, which underwent extensive scientific peer review, has been criticized in a report commissioned by REAL Women of Canada and the Drug Prevention Network of Canada. The authors of the Lancet study have responded to the criticism (Marshall et al., Overdose deaths and Vancouver’s supervised injection facility—Authors’ reply. Lancet, 2012; 379: 118-19). Summary of authors' reply.
Supreme Court rules Insite can stay open
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the doors to Vancouver’s supervised injecting facility, Insite, will remain open. Read more here.
New research points to the need for policy reforms and harm reduction programs for people who inject drugs in Bangkok, Thailand
A report released September 1, 2011 — “Reducing Drug-Related Harm in Thailand: Evidence and Recommendations from the Mitsampan Community Research Project (MSCRP)” — recommends that harm reduction programs in Thailand be expanded. A collaborative effort of the Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group (TTAG), the Urban Health Research Initiative and Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand), the report summarizes two years of research findings on HIV risk behaviours and barriers to accessing HIV and harm reduction services among people who inject drugs. Media release (English) Media release (Thai) Report (English) Report (Thai)
Insite reduces overdose deaths
A new study by UHRI researchers just published in The Lancet shows a dramatic decline in drug overdose deaths in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside following the opening of Insite, North America’s first medically supervised injecting facility.
The study shows that in the immediate vicinity of Insite, overdose deaths decreased by 35% after Insite opened in September 2003.
“This study clearly demonstrates that supervised injection facilities such as Insite are saving lives,” said Dr. Julio Montaner. “It’s time for the federal government to recognize the overwhelming scientific evidence in support of supervised injection sites, halt its legal manoeuvring to close Insite, and allow facilities such as Insite to open in other Canadian cities.” Media release Summary Abstract
Fact sheet on cannabis prohibition
The Urban Health Research Initiative has contributed to the extensive evidence indicating that drug prohibition, especially cannabis prohibition, is a major contributing factor to the growth of organized crime and related violence in British Columbia. To help inform policy makers, we have produced a fact sheet that outlines the key points and evidence on why cannabis prohibition has not reduced cannabis use or availability among young people and how it serves to support the persistent unregulated market that exists only to the benefit of organized crime, fuelling gang-related violence in our province. We join with other leading health and research organizations in recommending a new, evidence-based approach to cannabis policy. Download the fact sheet.
The evidence is clear: Bill S-10 will result in expensive, ineffective sentencing
Hundreds of health, research and academic leaders across Canada have signed an open letter outlining concerns regarding Bill S-10 and the federal government's proposal to introduce mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug offences. Click here to read the open letter and learn more. Les données sont claires : le projet de loi S-10 entraînera des peines coûteuses et inefficacesDes centaines de chefs de file des milieux de la santé, de la recherche et des universités de partout au Canada ont signé une lettre ouverte qui résume les préoccupations liées au projet de loi S-10 et à la proposition du gouvernement fédéral d’introduire des peines d’emprisonnement minimales obligatoires pour les infractions liées à la drogue. Cliquez ici pour lire la lettre et obtenir plus de renseignements.
UHRI supports the Vienna DeclarationThrough the Vienna Declaration, UHRI supports improving community health and safety by calling for the incorporation of scientific evidence into illicit drug policies. The Vienna Declaration is the official declaration of the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) held in Vienna, Austria, 18–23 July 2010. The Declaration was drafted by a team of international experts, including UHRI directors, and initiated by the International AIDS Society, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. The Declaration calls for an impact assessment of current drug policies and for ineffective policies to be replaced with evidence-based approaches that can meaningfully improve community health and safety. To learn more about this important initiative and where to sign, visit: www.viennadeclaration.com
UHRI directors win inaugural Population and Public Health Research Milestones Initiative award
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Public Health Association recognize the outstanding contributions of Dr. Thomas Kerr and Dr. Evan Wood in developing Canada’s research base for harm reduction and health equity approaches to HIV prevention and control.
Follow the links to learn more about the Research Milestones award and to read the nomination essay.
We take pride in publishing the results of our research in respected peer-reviewed journals. Our most recent publications are listed here. New papers appear regularly, so check back often.
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