Andrew Ivsins, University of British Columbia

Research

Harm Reduction Hiv Overdose Qualitative Research Substance Use

Latest papers

What can feminist relational discourse analysis offer the field of drug policy?
The International journal on drug policy · 2026
A qualitative study exploring motives for the transition from injecting to smoking drugs in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The International journal on drug policy · 2025 · senior author
Stable patterns, shifting risks: the impact of British Columbia's decriminalization and recriminalization policies on drug use behaviours.
Harm reduction journal · 2025

All 29 publications

Latest funding

Forging Community from Chaos: Advancing Equitable Health Outcomes in Complex Care Populations - A Comprehensive Study of the Dr. Peter Centre's Holistic Approach and Model of Care
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$20,000
The impact of safer supply interventions on HIV treatment and care among people living with HIV who use drugs
CIHR · 2022 · Principal investigator
$447,215

All 2 grants and awards

29 publications.

01

What can feminist relational discourse analysis offer the field of drug policy?

Jayathilake A, Ivsins A, Neufeld H, Jurkus M, Bardwell G

The International journal on drug policy2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105203 PMID: 41713115

02

A qualitative study exploring motives for the transition from injecting to smoking drugs in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bonn M, Kerr T, Boyd J, Rudzinski K, McNeil R, Ivsins A

The International journal on drug policy2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104982 PMID: 40946388

03

Stable patterns, shifting risks: the impact of British Columbia's decriminalization and recriminalization policies on drug use behaviours.

Ali F, Mende-Gibson J, Russell C, Torres-Salbach S, Bardwell G, Bonn M, Budau J, Ivsins A, Rehm J

Harm reduction journal2025

DOI: 10.1186/s12954-025-01322-9 PMID: 41088347

04

Early experiences and impacts of a fentanyl powder safer supply program in Vancouver, Canada: a qualitative study.

Ivsins A, Sutherland C, Kerr T, Kennedy MC

The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse2025First author

DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2025.2497800 PMID: 40326918

05

Repurposing prescribed hydromorphone: Alternative uses of safer supply and tablet-injectable opioid agonist treatment to meet unaddressed health needs.

Ivsins A, Bowles JM, Mansoor M, Kerr T, Bardwell G

The International journal on drug policy2024First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104601 PMID: 39378778

06

Reasons for Enrolling in Safer Supply Programs: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study on Participant Goals and Related Outcomes in the MySafe Program.

Ivsins A, Mansoor M, Bowles J, Bardwell G

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs2024First author

DOI: 10.15288/jsad.23-00388 PMID: 38900057

07

A qualitative evaluation of a fentanyl patch safer supply program in Vancouver, Canada.

Norton A, Ivsins A, Holliday E, Sutherland C, Kerr T, Kennedy MC

The International journal on drug policy2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104547 PMID: 39159532

08

"Everybody looks at it as drug use instead of pain management": Experiences of chronic pain and its management among older people living with HIV who use drugs in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Chayama KL, Ng C, Ivsins A, Small W, Knight R, McNeil R

Drug and alcohol dependence2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111399 PMID: 39029372

09

A qualitative study on perceptions and experiences of overdose among people who smoke drugs in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Ivsins A, Bonn M, McNeil R, Boyd J, Kerr T

Drug and alcohol dependence2024First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111275 PMID: 38581922

10

"The machine doesn't judge": Counternarratives on surveillance among people accessing a safer opioid supply via biometric machines.

Bardwell G, Ivsins A, Wallace JR, Mansoor M, Kerr T

Social science & medicine (1982)2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116683 PMID: 38364722

Forging Community from Chaos: Advancing Equitable Health Outcomes in Complex Care Populations - A Comprehensive Study of the Dr. Peter Centre's Holistic Approach and Model of Care

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Team Gr.: Embracing Diversity Achieve Prec./Health Equity-HIV/AIDS/STBBI-PHP-LOI

Principal investigators: Elliott, Scott; McDougall, Patrick; Smith, Patrick

Keywords: Client-Centred Care; Community-Based Model Of Care; Complex Care; Comprehensive Healthcare; Diverse Population Engagement Strategies; Hiv/Stbbi And/Or Substance Use; Life Course Approach; Lived Experience; Longitudinal Human Study; Storytelling; Story Harvesting; Substance Use; Drug Use; Illicit Drug Use

$20,000

The impact of safer supply interventions on HIV treatment and care among people living with HIV who use drugs

Principal investigatorCIHR2022Operating Grant - HIV/AIDS CBR Program - General

Principal investigators: Boyd, Jade; McDougall, Patrick; Ivsins, Andrew

Keywords: Harm Reduction; Hiv; Overdose; Qualitative Research; Substance Use

$447,215

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Medicine
Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division
BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS
School of Public Health Sciences
Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
School of Social Work
Other

Co-authors at University of British Columbia, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Ryan Mcneil

BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS

11 shared papers, latest 2025

Thomas Kerr

Medicine

11 shared papers, latest 2025

Geoff Bardwell

School of Public Health Sciences

9 shared papers, latest 2026

Jade Boyd

Medicine

7 shared papers, latest 2025

Carol Strike

Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences

2 shared papers, latest 2023

Karen Urbanoski

Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

2 shared papers, latest 2023

Farihah Ali

Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Gina Martin

School of Nursing

1 shared papers, latest 2013

Mohammad Karamouzian

Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Gillian Kolla

Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Tara Gomes

Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Kate Salters

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Hannah Neufeld

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Amanda Slaunwhite

School of Population and Public Health

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Bernadette Pauly

Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

1 shared papers, latest 2023

David Tu

Psychiatry

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Elaine Hyshka

Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Adrian Guta

School of Social Work

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Harm Reduction Dear Professor Ivsins, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "What can feminist relational discourse analysis offer the field of drug policy?" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "The impact of safer supply interventions on HIV treatment and care among people living with HIV who use drugs" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]