People

PhD, Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
MSc, Biomedical Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
BA, Neuroscience, University of Delaware

Supervised injection facilities, Public injection, Overdose, Opioids, Naloxone, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HIV, Harm reduction, Risk environment, Injection drug use, Drug policy, Occupational safety

Brett Wolfson-Stofko received his PhD in biochemistry from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his bachelor’s in neuroscience from the University of Delaware – Newark during which he conducted in vitro and in vivo pharmacology research. He began volunteering with New York Harm Reduction Educators’ mobile syringe exchange in the Bronx in 2010. He later worked at BOOM!Health, a syringe exchange and health service provider in the South Bronx, coordinating a clinical trial that evaluated a 3-in-1 HIV/HCV/HBV rapid diagnostic test. He then received a post-doctoral fellowship (T32) through National Development & Research Institutes (NDRI)/New York University to study drug use occurring in public bathrooms, and designed an overdose response and naloxone administration training program for service industry employees who encounter overdoses in their place of business. He also collaborated on a prospective study of military veteran’s overdose risks and subsequent prevention efforts (R01DA036754).

Following his fellowship, he moved to Toronto, Canada where he worked at Street Health’s overdose prevention site (synonymous to supervised injection facilities, drug consumption room, etc.) and responded to opioid, cocaine, benzodiazepine, and methamphetamine overdoses. He now conducts research out of the Viral Hepatitis Care Network (VIRCAN) at Toronto General Hospital (University Health Network). His current research focuses on strategies to increase hepatitis C screening and linkages to care, focusing on people who use drugs, those with psychiatric disorders, and immigrant populations. He is also a steering committee member of the Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA) and advocates for the expansion of overdose prevention sites, safe supply, and affordable housing.

Recent

Dr. Wolfson-Stofko's Google Scholar Profile

Drugs and Syringes Have Become Such a Problem in Starbucks Bathrooms that the Company is Installing Needle-Disposal Boxes in Certain Locations

Business Insider

Brett Wolfson-Stofko interviewed about his research on public bathroom drug use and the risk of needle sticks to employees and customers.

Service Workers Say Supervised Injection Facilities Could Cut Restroom Overdoses

Reuters

Brett Wolfson-Stofko discussed service industry employee perspectives of supervised injection facilities and their potential benefits for workers, customers, and communities.

Service Employees Can Be Trained to Respond to Overdoses in Public Restrooms

Reuters

Brett Wolfson-Stofko discussed results from his study that trained service industry employees to respond and administer naloxone to people who overdose in business bathrooms.