Myriam Ben Moussa聽
Name: Myriam Ben Moussa (she/her)
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Degree: Master of Science in Public Health (2022)
Previous degree: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ottawa
Current status: Working as an Epidemiologist and Surveillance Coordinator with the Public Health Agency of Canada鈥檚 Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
Inspiration
My passion for promoting health and dispelling scientific myths gave me the desire to expand my understanding of how public health research and practice affect different demographics. I quickly developed an interest in public health ethics and policy, motivating me to complete my practicum with the INSPQ ethics committee. As an avid supporter of harm reductionist policy in all spheres of life, I took great pride in being able to research the ethical considerations that underlie harm reduction interventions among adult and youth populations.
Impact
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 11,000 lives have been lost to opioid-related toxicity in Canada, with the majority of these attributed to accidental overdoses.
The biggest surprise came about through the research on the youth-focused facet of the project. It was astounding to me how narrow and highly specific the body of literature on pediatric harm reduction and substance use was. This facet of the research process piqued my interest in pediatric research ethics and its application to harm reduction. In order to facilitate youth health-seeking behavior in matters of risky substance use, harm reduction services should be accordingly adapted.
Through my research on analyzing the ethical acceptability of fentanyl detection strip distribution and Naloxone distribution to youth in the province of Quebec, I was able to contribute to this conversation and highlight the ethical and social acceptability of these services.
Eye to the Future
I look forward to continuing to grow as a public health professional in my current role at the Public Health Agency of Canada, and to gaining tangible experience in the field of participatory influenza surveillance and health promotion. I am also pursuing independent research endeavors and hope to one day return to contributing to the field of public health research ethics and substance-related harms.
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