Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Since 2008 Canada has adopted heroin assisted treatment as part of the North American Opiate Maintenance Initiative (Naomi) and later through the Study to Assess Longer-Term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME). The success of the studies in the treatment of severe and refractory heroin dependence lead to the establishment of the on-going heroin assisted treatment program at the Crosstown Clinic in Canada. The Crosstown Clinic remains the only site in Canada to engage in such treatment. While the efficacy and cost-effectiveness have been demonstrated, little is known about the experiences of patients and staff within the program. In this interpretive descriptive study I will investigate the clinical phenomenon of heroin assisted treatment by identifying themes that are based on subjective interpretations of experiences. Thematic analysis can assist in identifying common themes and patterns and relies on processes of constant comparison to developed insights into human experiences. It is important to always keep the aim of the research in mind and to contribute in ways that speak to a) what can be learned about the phenomenon and b) how does this knowledge shape practice. The goals of this study are to better understand the experiences of people who seek treatment for severe and refractory heroin dependency, to inform the practice of everyday practitioners, and to help policy makers create programs that ensure access to and retention in treatment.