Nearly half of homeless adults in Toronto report regular crack use and face major barriers to health care and other services

What:     Public Forum and Release of the Homelessness & Crack Use
              Research Bulletin
    Date:     Friday, December 12th, 2008
    Time:     9:00 am - 11:00 am
    Place:    City Hall, Committee Room No.2
              100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ONTORONTO, Dec. 11 /CNW/ - A research study by Street Health, an
organization providing nursing care and street outreach services to homeless
people in Toronto for over 20 years, reveals that there is an urgent need for
non-judgmental, crack-specific services aimed at marginalized and street
involved drug users.
    The Homelessness & Crack Use Research Bulletin is based on a
representative survey of 368 homeless adults in downtown Toronto conducted in
the winter of 2006/2007. The study found that 49% of homeless adults reported
regular crack cocaine use (3 or more times per week) in the past year. The
study reveals a detailed picture of the difficult lives of homeless people who
use crack including findings on heath problems, social isolation and poor
access to addiction treatment services and shelter.
    "Our study shows that homeless adults who use crack live with extreme
stress and social isolation," commented Kate Mason, Study Coordinator, Street
Health. "They have worse access to shelter services and are homeless longer on
average when compared to homeless people who do not use crack. They have
difficulty meeting even their basic survival needs."
    "This study makes it clear that we need immediate action to address the
multiple obstacles to obtaining health care and social services for
marginalized drug users and to address some of the underlying causes of drug
use such as poverty and inequality." stated Holly Kramer of the Toronto Harm
Reduction Task Force.

    The Homelessness & Crack Use Research Bulletin will be available at the
launch on December 12th and at www.streethealth.ca after its public release.
The forum is being hosted by Street Health, the Toronto Harm Reduction Task
Force and the Safer Crack Use Coalition.

For further information: or to arrange interviews with study researchers
or people with lived experience of homelessness and crack use, please contact:
Lorie Steer, Harm Reduction Program Manager, Street Health, work: (416)
921-8668 ext. 232, cell: [phone], [e-mail]