Canadian Observatory on Homelessness
The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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Author(s): Verena Strehlau, Iris Torchalla, Isabelle Linden, Kathy Li, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2014
It is well known that homeless individuals are at risk for a variety of health problems, including sexually transmissible infections. Optimisation of health services for the homeless requires knowledge of their sexual health. The sexual health and sexual vulnerability factors of 500 homeless adults (196 women) were assessed in a cross-sectional survey in three Canadian cities. Our data indicate that a significant proportion of individuals and mor...
Author(s): Iris Torchalla, Kathy Li, Verena Strehlau, Isabelle Aube Linden, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2014
This study examined religious behaviors in 380 homeless individuals. We hypothesized that higher frequency of religious attendance is associated with lower rates of use of all substances, lower rates of drug and alcohol dependence, and lower psychological distress. Individuals attending religious ceremonies at least weekly ("frequent attendees") were compared to infrequent attendees. Participants also provided qualitative information about their...
Author(s): Iris Torchalla;, Verena Strehlau, Kathy Li, Isabelle Aube Linden, François Noël, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2014
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent in homeless populations, and rates are typically greater among males. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common co-occurring condition among individuals with SUDs; however, little attention has been directed to examining this comorbidity in homeless populations. Although some studies indicate considerable sex differences among individuals with PTSD, it has also been suggested that sex dif...
Author(s): Marissa Y. Mar, Isabelle A. Linden, Iris Torchalla, Kathy Li, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2014
This study investigates 500 homeless adults and the associations between childhood maltreatment types and the age of first reported homelessness episode. Those first experiencing homelessness in youth (age 24 years or younger; 46%) were compared with those first experiencing homelessness at a later age (older than age 24 years). In individual models, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect were associated with first experiencing ho...
Author(s): Reinhardt Michael Krausz, Adam F Clarkson, Verena Strehlau, Iris Torchalla, Kathy Li, Christian G. Schuetz
Publication Date: 2013
Objective
To determine the standardized rates of mental disorder, health service use and barriers to care in a representatively diverse sample of homeless adults in three different sized urban centers in British Columbia, Canada.
Method
Five hundred homeless adults from Vancouver, Victoria and Prince George were recruited. The MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview PLUS was used to determine current and lifetime rates of mental disorder, m...
Author(s): M. T. Schechter, Paula Braitstein, Kathy Li, Mark Tyndall, Patricia Spittal, Michael V. O'Shaughnessy, Arn Schilder, Caitlin Johnston, Robert S. Hogg, Martin T. Schechter
Publication Date: 2003
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, sexual violence in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, among injection drug using men and women. The Vancouver Injection Drug User Study is a prospective cohort of injection drug users (IDU) begun in 1996. The analysis included all individuals who completed the baseline questionnaire who responded to a question about sexual assault. Multivariate modelin...
Author(s): Patricia M. Spittal, Kevin J. P. Craib, Evan Wood, Nancy Laliberté, Kathy Li, Mark W. Tyndall, Michael V. O'Shaughnessy, Martin T. Schechter
Publication Date: 2002
In 1997, we found a higher prevalence of HIV among female than among male injection drug users in Vancouver. Factors associated with HIV incidence among women in this setting were unknown. In the present study, we sought to compare HIV incidence rates among male and female injection drug users in Vancouver and to compare factors associated with HIV seroconversion.
Author(s): Christian Schütz, Isabelle Aube Linden, Iris Torchalla, Kathy Li, Majid Al-Desouki, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2013
Patients with addictions and concurrent disorders constitute the most underserved population in the system of care. There are numerous reasons why this population has so much difficulty accessing services, including behavioural issues, criminal engagement, and non-compliance with outpatient services. To improve services to this population which is marked by multiple morbidities, high mortality and insufficient access to health care, the governmen...
Author(s): Iris Torchalla, Verena Strehlau, Kathy Li, Christian Schuetz, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2012
This study explored self-reports of five childhood maltreatment (CM) subtypes and their associations with current suicide risk in a sample of 500 homeless persons. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Individual, unique, and cumulative associations of CM subtypes and subtype combinations with suicide risk (no vs. low vs. moderate/high) were examined. In multivariate analy...
Author(s): Evan Wood, Kathy Li, Anita Palepu, David C. Marsh, Martin T. Schechter, Robert S. Hogg, Julio S.G. Montaner, Thomas Kerr
Publication Date: 2005
Vancouver's explosive HIV epidemic among injection drug users (IDUs) has received international attention due to the presence of a large needle exchange program. The role of addiction treatment has not been evaluated in this setting. We evaluated factors associated with use of addiction treatment among a prospective cohort of Vancouver IDUs. Addiction treatment was negatively associated with Aboriginal ethnicity and unstable housing, both of whic...
Author(s): Iris Torchalla, Verena Strehlau, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Kathy Li, Christian Schuetz, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2011
Objective: To assess prevalence rates of tobacco use and dependence in a sample of homeless individuals and to investigate trends for demographic and clinical characteristics across different levels of nicotine dependence (nonsmokers vs. lowly dependent smokers vs. highly dependent smokers). Methods: A cross-sectional study of 489 homeless men and women in 3 Canadian cities. Each subject was assessed using structured clinical interviews and th...
Author(s): Iris Torchalla, Verena Strehlau, Kathy Li, Michael Krausz
Publication Date: 2011
Objective: To examine lifetime and current prevalence rates of substance use disorders and the demographic and clinical correlates of current drug dependence in a sample of homeless women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 196 homeless women in three Canadian cities was done. Each subject was assessed using structured clinical interviews. A multivariate regression model was applied to determine predictors of substance use.
Results: The mean age...
Author(s): Scott E. Hadland, Thomas Kerr, Kathy Li, Julio S. Montaner, Evan Wood
Publication Date: 2009
Background: A number of options for treatment are available to young drug users, but little is known about the youth who actually attempt to access such services. Here we identify characteristics of a cohort of street-involved youth and highlight commonly encountered barriers. Methods: From September 2005 to July 2007, data were collected from the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), a prospective cohort of 529 drug users aged 14–26 living in Vancouver...
Author(s): Mark W. Tyndall, Kevin J. P. Craib, Sue Currie, Kathy Li, Michael V. O'Shaughnessy, Martin T. Schechter
Publication Date: 2001
Recent studies have indicated that injection-related infections such as abscesses and cellulitis account for the majority of emergency room visits and acute hospitalizations accrued by injection drug users. The objective of this analysis was to examine the prevalence and correlates of developing an abscess among a cohort of injection drug users in Vancouver and to identify socio-demographic and drug use variables associated with abscesses at base...
Author(s): Anita Palepu, Mark W. Tyndall, Kathy Li, Benita Yip, Michael V. O’Shaughnessy, Martin T. Schechter, Julio S. G. Montaner, Robert S. Hogg
Publication Date: 2003
We conducted this study among HIV-infected injection drug users to determine the effect of self-reported alcohol use and prior incarceration at the time of initiating antiretroviral therapy on subsequent HIV-1 RNA suppression. We examined the demographics, recent incarceration history, and drug and alcohol use history from the Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS) questionnaire closest to the date of initiating antiretroviral therapy. We li...
Author(s): Cari L. Miller, Thomas Kerr, James C. Frankish, Patricia M. Spittal, Kathy Li, Martin T. Schechter, Evan Wood
Publication Date: 2006
Background: We sought to evaluate the potential association between binge drug use and HIV seroconversion and subsequently, risk factors associated with binge drug use among a cohort of IDUs. Methods: We performed analyses of: 1) associations with HIV seroconversion and 2) associations with binge drug use among participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS), a prospective cohort of IDU. Since serial measures for each in...