The Ontario government’s proposed changes represent the largest deregulation of alcohol policy in Canada in decades, and a large body of research cautions that these changes may lead to increased alcohol consumption and associated harms.
➡️ cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.…

Homelessness is a policy choice.

When asked to share my experiences with medical professionals I often share this story.

In 2005 I went into hospital because of osteomyelitis (bone infection), which required a PICC line in my heart and antibiotics every 4 hrs for 6 - 8 weeks.

Not long into my treatment the…

Designated spaces for substance use in hospitals are not outrageous or scary - they are simply part of ensuring that we have a continuum of care options available to all people who need to access hospital based services, and help to ensure they can get the care they need.

There has been a lot of media attention about substance use in hospitals lately.

BC's new policy is positive and will help to ensure safety for staff and patients - including people who use drugs. And we have several models in Canada to draw from to help implement them - a 🧵

During the early 1900s, the consumption of alcohol and its associated problems were prevalent in many societies. The temperance movement, which advocated for the moderation or complete abstinence from alcohol, gained momentum in various countries, including the United States and…

Great poster & presentation by DalMedSchool student Maya Lowe on our co-production process for hospital inpatient substance use policies in Halifax w/ Mainline & many other amazing colleagues on multidisciplinary committee, Department of Medicine (DoM) Research Research Day!

In the last few years we have seen actual data supporting safety and effectiveness of naltrexone in cirrhosis

Largely thanks to Anahita Rabiee

Even guidelines are starting to endorse it

Gone are the days of reflexively saying “contraindicated”

This started on #livertwitter

If you want to change behavior, show the data. So proud of Anahita Rabiee adding to evidence behind safety of naltrexone in cirrhosis.

Among 2940 patients with cirrhosis started on naltrexone for AUD, zero cases of DILI was identified!
#livertwitter

sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

the other option is people in hospital a using drugs in any place possible, as in the bad ol' days. because people use drugs.

how about we address reality with practical and pragmatic reality-based measures and communicate all this directly

could we possibly try that

Supervised inhalation sites are just as important as supervised injectioning sites, good to see this in my adopted city 👌 cbc.ca/news/canada/mo…

Quebec pioneer in HIV/AIDS research to be inducted into Canadian Medical Hall Fame.

Watch the interview with Catherine Hankins Catherine Hankins McGill Medicine and Health Sciences COVID-19 Immunity Task Force

cbc.ca/player/play/1.…

“Harm reduction workers described physical, social & emotional impacts from their work on the front-lines of this crisis, as well as tremendous grief due to so many losses. Many described feeling completely abandoned by government decision makers & the healthcare system”

“When asked Thursday by The Globe and Mail whether this meant requiring overdose prevention services or designated-use spaces in every hospital in B.C., the minister replied: “That is the purpose of the effort.””

Can we talk implementation?

🧵

#bcpoli

theglobeandmail.com/canada/british…

Supervised consumption services in every hospital is going to be a big undertaking. Important factors to consider:
-environmental design
-staffing model and composition
-acceptable ventilation for people who smoke their drugs
-staff training
-accessibility and acceptability

Talking about harm reduction research is my favourite thing! Thankful for the opportunity to share the final results of the North End Community Health Centre MOSH Halifax Managed Alcohol Program two year evaluation today at the Department of Medicine (DoM) Research event

'When asked Thursday by The Globe and Mail whether this meant requiring overdose prevention services or designated-use spaces in every hospital in B.C., the minister replied: “That is the purpose of the effort.”'

Do you want to know more about our safe consumption services in Mexico?

Listen to this ⁦NPR⁩ ⁦Radio Ambulante⁩ episode that shows the amazing work by ⁦Verter AC⁩ and ⁦PrevenCasa⁩

All this work is done w/o gov support podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rad…

this seems like a surprisingly good outcome—as long as there is policy in place for smoking areas, which has been the method for 60-71% of monthly overdose deaths for years now, especially as the medical system refuses and/or is unable to prescribe therapeutic alternatives