Grant: CIHR New Investigator

Injection-drug users are extremely susceptible to drug-related health risks, including HIV, hepatitis C, and overdose. Although treatments for drug addiction are available, they are not always effective for those with the most severe cases of addiction. A key issue is that many members of this vulnerable population exist outside of the health care system and, as a result, injection-drug users continue to place themselves, and those in their immediate community, at risk of drug-related health risks. The Innovation in Addiction Treatment (IAT) research program focuses on studying alternative drug addiction treatments that can be used to reach vulnerable populations existing outside of the health care system. For example, previous research studies in Europe and Canada have shown that medically prescribed heroin can effectively attract and retain injection-drug users into the health care system and can ultimately improve the health of this vulnerable population. Unfortunately, the negative stigma attached to the medical use of heroin is a barrier to its implementation in many settings. Based on a previous study, the IAT research program is testing whether licensed pain medications can successfully treat the most severe cases of heroin dependency and study how this approach compares to medically prescribed heroin. After patients are effectively stabilized with injection treatment, it will determine if pain medication administered as an oral liquid can be used instead of injections. The program pays special attention to sub-populations of women and Aboriginal people that have experienced high rates of victimization, including physical and sexual abuse, or violent or traumatic experiences which dramatically impact their health. These treatments might directly benefit the people with the most severe cases of heroin addiction and will also measure the beneficial impacts in their communities as well.