Research summary
The use of illicit drugs leads to more than 750,000 preventable deaths globally every year. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, overdose rates have surged in Canada, due in large part to the prevalence of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, interruptions in drug supply chains, and reduced access to harm reduction and other support services.
Dr. Mary Clare Kennedy, Canada Research Chair in Substance Use Policy and Practice Research, is generating policy- and practice-relevant evidence to help develop, implement and make use of new substance use interventions. In particular, she and her research team are identifying the impacts of new policies and practices in the delivery of supervised consumption services. They are also characterizing the influence of different factors on the access to, and outcomes of, safe supply programs. Ultimately, they aim to advance health equity and improve health outcomes for drug users in Canada and internationally.