Areas of Focus
The Hub is primarily focused on community-based research that amplifies the experiences of individuals closest to the identified area of exploration. It is committed to timely knowledge mobilization to share findings with individuals and communities.
The Hub views substance use care as health care and seeks equitable services for all people who use drugs. The Hub further recognizes and seeks to address the disproportionate impact of the opioid epidemic in Northern Ontario.
Research to date has focused on harm reduction approaches and services that have sought to address the opioid epidemic such Supervised Consumption Sites/Consumption & Treatment Sites (SCS/CTS), Safer Supply Programs, and overdose prevention strategies (e.g., naloxone, drug testing, using alone strategies).
Other areas include social justice in the workplace, specific to addiction as a workplace disability; and health equity specific to vaccine safety within equity seeking groups.
CURRENT STUDY - Spring 2025
Participant Recruitment:
Responding to the Opioid Epidemic in Rural Communities in Northwestern Ontario: Perspectives from Service Providers
Thunder Bay Safer Supply (TBSSP) Program Evaluation
Starting in 2021, Safer Supply Programs were piloted throughout identified communities in Ontario. These programs were one of many harm reduction strategies implemented in response to opioid epidemic and the resulting opioid-related harms and deaths. As part of the delivery of these pilot programs, Health Canada required host organizations to engage in a third party evaluation. The report, infographic and webinar presented below are the results of the program evaluation conducted in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Safer Supply Program Evaluation Webinar hosted by the National Safer Supply Community of Practice (NSSCOP).
TBSSP Program Evaluation Report
TBSSP Program Evaluation Infographic
EPID@Work
EPID@Work is a research institute at Lakehead University that conducts community-driven research specific to work-related injury and disability prevention focusing primarily on Northwestern Ontario (NWO). Current areas of research include mental health in the workplace; equity, diversity and inclusion; and knowledge mobilization and implementation.
EPID is currently conducting the largest cohort study in Northwestern Ontario examining workplace factors for mental health and well-being in the workplace. Click here to learn more about this study.
In addition to this study, members of The Hub worked with EPID@Work to gain an understanding of NWO employers and employees attitudes and beliefs about addiction, addiction as a disability and the required workplace accommodations. Watch our page for upcoming results.
Check out the 2024 Research into Action Conference:
Research Into Action Conference 2024
Research at Lakehead University
Research Matters is a YouTube series that highlights the diverse research programs being conducted at Lakehead University. This episode of Research Matters is focused on community-based research, the role of community partnerships, addressing the opioid epidemic, amplifying the voices of people with living experience and including students in research.
Research Matters interview with Dr. Sprakes and Sydney Ambury, MSW student
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Speaking up about Vaccine Safety
This project aimed to address the urgent need to better serve marginalized populations who were severely impacted by the pandemic. COVID-19 exposed and amplified health inequities faced by the marginalized communities. The P2P project was conceptualized as a way to mobilize health care delivery organizations within Thunder Bay and District to serve vulnerable populations in Northwestern Ontario through targeted communications and peer outreach aimed at increasing uptake for COVID-19 (and other) vaccinations.
P2P Speaking up about Vaccine Safety: Program Evaluation
P2P Program Logic Model
P2P Research Team: (LtoR) Dr. Abigale Sprakes, Abbey Radford PhD Student and Dr. Elaine Toombs
Graduate Research
Graduate students involved in The Hub focus their research in a variety of substance use related areas. Research has included:
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Supporting Transgender and Nonbinary Youth in the Treatment of Eating Disorders and Substance Use Disorders: Recommendations for Practitioners
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When Service Availability is Based on Age Rather Than Need: Access to Care for Youth Who Use Opioids
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“I’m alive today”: How political ideologies impact the lives of individuals on the Thunder Bay Safer Supply Program
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Tailoring Harm Reduction Services for Transgender Individuals: Recommendations for Substance Use Programming
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Harm Reduction and Naloxone in Homeless Shelters: A Review of the Literature (Supervisor Dr. Susan Scott)
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A Literature Review of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Red Road to Wellbriety: Indigenous Perspectives and Spirituality in Addiction Recovery (Supervisor Dr. Ravi Gokani)
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Exploring Treatment Adaptations for Autistic Adults with Substance Use Disorder
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Responding to the Opioid Epidemic in Rural Communities in Northwestern Ontario: Perspectives from Service Providers
If you are interested in completing your MSW at Lakehead University and working with Dr. Sprakes please contact her at asprakes@lakeheadu.ca
Interested in learning more about our research?