Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor @ucsfbhhi | Postdoctoral training @ucsfbhhi | Epi PhD @UCLAFSPH | Behavioral & social epidemiologist in infectious diseases & substance use

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

@ki_endoepi Congratulations, Kosuke!! What an amazing achievement and very well deserved!!!

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

@gabegabeyeah Thank you for sharing our work, Gabe! @gabegabeyeah

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

@ki_endoepi @JAMA_current Thank you, Kosuke! @ki_endoepi

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

We have a new paper in @JAMA_current on substance use in people experiencing homelessness, from the largest representative study of people experiencing homelessness since the 1990s

https://t.co/XE19D4S7Z5

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

Thank you to an incredible authorship team, Margot Kushel, Meghan Morris, Elana Straus, Priest Martinez, and Morgan Philbin

@ucsfbhhi

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

Recommendations:
1. Prioritizing housing is an important first step
2. Increasing access to treatment that reaches people experiencing homelessness while minimizing barriers to treatment is critical
3. Increasing access to naloxone is important to prevent fatal overdose deaths

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

Take home:
1. Meth is the most common reported drug
2. Their are barriers for people experiencing homelessness to access treatment
3. Naloxone possession, a life-saving medication, is low

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

4. Many people have survived an overdose
-20% have experienced an overdose in their lifetime
-10% experienced an overdose during this current episode of homelessness

25% of people currently carried naloxone, a medication to reverse an overdose

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

3. There is a high unmet need for substance use treatment
-21% of people who used drugs at least 3 times a week reported currently wanting treatment but were not able to access it
-This was higher for people who used opioids (37%)

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

2. About a quarter started using drugs at least 3 times a week after becoming homeless for the first time
-42% used before becoming homeless
-25% never used at all

Drug use may increase the risk of experiencing homelessness, but homelessness increases the risk of substance use

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

Key findings:
1. 37% used illicit drugs at least 3 times a week
-Most common drug= methamphetamine (33%)
-10% used opioids (most people who used opioids also used meth)
-Small % using cocaine/crack cocaine (3%)

[Anita Hargrave, MD MAS @AnitaHargraveMD]

Out today in @JAMAInternalMed:

We find #violence against people experiencing #homelessness is 30x ⬆️ than what the general public experiences each year. We analyze factors associated with this violence and implications for practice & policy. @MKushel @ucsfbhhi @ucsfdgimzsfg

[UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative @ucsfbhhi]

Most people experiencing homelessness in California do so in unsheltered settings.

Join us to learn about unsheltered homelessness and best practices for decreasing it!
🗓️ Sept 25 | 12-1PM PDT
https://t.co/qE1L1aTxXk

[UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative @ucsfbhhi]

⛺️In CA, 78% of people experiencing homelessness live unsheltered, facing severe health risks and violence.

🔖Today, we released a brief and two resources to help communities across the nation resolve this crisis.

https://t.co/P3zFmQ66ua (1/4)

[Morgan Philbin @morgan_philbin]

Sharing an Op-Ed I wrote on the need for housing-related services that support/meet the needs of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, especially in the face of increasingly draconian policies 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@TheOpEdProject @UCSF @ucsfbhhi #lgtbiaq

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

New report on older adults experiencing homelessness by @ucsfbhhi

Nearly half of all adults experiencing homelessness in California are 50 years old or older

They face poor health & trauma, with many spending most nights unsheltered

Read more: https://t.co/wc5Jia1Arc

[UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative @ucsfbhhi]

In the US, the number of #olderadults spending the last years of their lives on the streets or in shelters is growing rapidly.

Our new report, “Toward Dignity,” examines #CASPEH data to provide a comprehensive view of what they're facing. 🧵 (1/4)

Read: https://t.co/1NVrDuvVtd

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

@DrRitaHamad @ucsfbhhi @Magda_Cerda @sandrogalea Thank you @DrRitaHamad! I learned a lot working with you and am grateful for your mentorship!! It is great to see this paper out there.

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

New op-ed: Adding Middle Eastern or North African on the U.S. Census provides critical benefits
https://t.co/9UnKySuXmx

Published in @Newsweek in collaboration with
@ucsfbhhi and @theopedproject

Proud to be a #PublicVoices Fellow

[Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH @RyanDAssaf]

Less people living in states with more intense COVID-19 policies shared cannabis joints/blunts/paraphernalia compared to those in states with less intense policies. Our new paper in Harm Reduction Journal: https://t.co/anG0LSLon7

@BMCMedicine
@zivacooper
@oacarah
@DrRitaHamad

[UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative @ucsfbhhi]

Time is running out to apply to our next #postdoctoral cohort!

This 2-yr role is a great way for doctoral #grads to grow their research experience & career.

⏰Apply by Feb 28, 2024: https://t.co/UExMdEa7Ar
#PostdocJobs #ResearchFellowships #Policy