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IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Past and Upcoming Events

  • Membership Feedback Survey

  • July Meeting Themes

  • Featured Resources

  • Research Paper of the Month

  • Research

  • In the News

  • Community Updates and Events

  • Ways to Get Involved

PAST AND UPCOMING EVENTS

PAST IN-PERSON EVENTS:

"Opening Doors to Care for People Who Use Drugs" - the first ever Atlantic Safer Supply Regional Meeting - was a big success! This one-day knowledge exchange on June 27th featured panel discussions, presentations, and facilitated group discussions, all centred on expanding and strengthening safer supply programs across the Atlantic Region.

We couldn't have done it without the hard work and dedication of our co-hosts -
Direction 180 and the Substance User Network of the Atlantic Region (SUNAR) - as well as our incredible planning committee members. For a full list of our appreciations and gratitude, click here.

You can now find key resources, recordings, session information, photos, and more on our website.



PAST WEBINAR EVENTS:

On World Hepatitis Day (Thursday, July 28th), we co-hosted a webinar in partnership with CATIE, Canada's source for HIV and Hepatitis C Information. The webinar - "Integrating Hepatitis C Care with Safer Supply Practice" - shared information on how safer supply providers can integrate hepatitis C care into their practice. The webinar included an overview of hepatitis C testing, treatment and prevention, examples of how other safer supply programs are providing hepatitis C care, and linkage to hepatitis C trainings and resources. A moderated Q & A session followed the discussion. Find the webinar recording and resources shared here.

UPCOMING AUGUST EVENTS:

Weekly Drop-In Meetings:

Members are welcome to join our weekly meeting drop-in meetings. It is an interdisciplinary group with prescribers, pharmacists, harm reduction workers, policy folks, nurses, people who use drugs, etc. Right now, we are meeting on Thursdays at 12pm EDT. Zoom Link

Upcoming Webinar Events:

Join us on Thursday, August 25th at 12pm EDT for the webinar - "Harm Reduction, Safer Supply & Experiences of Pre- and Peri-Natal Care". This webinar will feature presentations and a Q&A on pre- and peri-natal programs and issues in and adjacent to harm reduction and/or safer supply.
Moderated by Keri Guelke, our presenters for this session will be: Julene Rawson from Prairie Harm Reduction (Saskatchewan), Jenna Bly, a midwife with South Riverdale CHC (Ontario), Hawkfeather Peterson Parents Advocating Collectively for Kin (BC), (tentative) Sheway (BC). 
Audience members are welcome to submit their questions in the Q & A box following the discussion. This is a public event. English closed captioning will be provided. Register here.

MEMBERSHIP FEEDBACK SURVEY


In collaboration with the team at Transform Practice, we have now started an evaluation of the NSS-CoP and all the work that has been done since its creation! As part of this evaluation process, we're asking all NSS-CoP members to please take the time to fill out our membership feedback survey! We want to hear from you about what we are doing well, what hasn’t worked well, and what ideas you have for us. This survey has 18 questions (12 multiple choice and 6 open-ended) and will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous. We do not collect your name or email address. Thank you in advance for participating and offering your feedback to help us grow as a community of practice, it is greatly valued!

English and French NSS-CoP 2021-22 Membership Feedback Survey
JULY MEETING THEMES

Meeting Minutes:

Full meeting minutes can be found in the meeting notes and resources folder on the National Safer Supply Community of Practice
Google Drive.


July 7th, 2022

  • Social model of overdose prevention sites
  • Drug checking services and results
  • Funding for drug testing

July 14th, 2022

  • Clonidine and its effects on safer supply
  • Drug alert reporting website
  • Social prescribing and how it connects to safer supply

July 21st, 2022

  • Referring clients to safer supply programs 
  • How to best navigate clients on safer supply who are out of town for a short period of time
FEATURED RESOURCES
NSS-CoP Resource Library: Did you know we have a resource library with OVER 700 resources on safer supply? You can access it for FREE anytime. It features academic journal articles, grey literature, knowledge translation materials, clinical practice guidelines, and more!

A Report on British Columbia’s Unregulated Drug Supply: Drug checking trends across British Columbia, January to December 2021 - British Columbia Centre on Substance Use: The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the substances that were submitted to drug checking in sites across British Columbia, as well as highlight any trends in the unregulated drug supply in 2021. The data is presented both by health authority regions, and by drug category, to provide an in-depth look at how the unregulated drug supply varies between region, and how it changed across the year. The data presented was collected by technicians at community sites where drug checking is available, using benzodiazepine and fentanyl immunoassay test strips and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Samples were grouped into the following categories: opioids, stimulants, depressants, psychedelics, other, polysubstance, and unknown. 

Family Physician Remuneration for Substance Use Disorders Care [Report] - Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: This report explores Canadian physicians’ experiences and perspectives on using the fee-for-service remuneration model to care for patients with substance use disorders. The report outlines suggestions to improve patient care for this complex health condition, while compensating family physicians fairly for their time and expertise.

Where To?: This new online directory is for people looking for HIV, hepatitis C, sexual health or harm reduction services in Canada, with additional resources to support their journey to health and wellness. The website allows you to search for services by location or by type of service. CATIE operates and maintains this website. Service providers can also register their own organization. An administrator will review your listing before it gets published.
 
Crackdown Podcast - Episode 34: The Iron Law: A new episode of Crackdown Podcast is available. Here's a brief description of the episode: "Drug decriminalization is coming to British Columbia. And that’s a big step forward. Our movement has been fighting for decriminalization for decades. To us, decriminalization means getting cops, courts and jails out of our lives. It means police stop harassing, arresting and seizing dope off of us. For the past year, VANDU sent Garth and others to sit on a government committee and fight for this vision. Unsurprisingly, much of our advice was disregarded. But the cops fought for low thresholds - and won. That means that a big proportion of drug users in BC will remain criminalized. Cops and politicians have also made noise about ramping up enforcement on dealers. On today’s show, I talk to Leo Beletsky about why this is a bad idea that could make the overdose crisis even worse."
 
Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC January 1, 2012 – May 31, 2022 - BC Coroners Service: This report summarizes all unintentional illicit drug toxicity deaths in British Columbia (accidental and undetermined) that occurred between January 1, 2012, and May 31, 2022, inclusive. It includes confirmed and suspected illicit toxicity deaths.
 
Toxic Drug Poisoning Events and Deaths and FNHA’s Response: January 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 - First Nations Health Authority: Each month, the First Nations Health Authority (the FNHA) reports on the number of toxic drug poisoning events and deaths that have taken place in First Nations populations in BC. In the report, the FNHA also summarizes the actions that the FNHA is taking in response to the toxic drug emergency. This report covers the period January 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. For previous reports, see Harm Reduction on FNHA.ca.
RESEARCH PAPER OF THE MONTH

Haines, M., & O’Byrne, P. (2022). Nurse-led safer opioid supply and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: a novel pilot project | Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease 

Highlights:

  • This is a prospective, single-group interventional study involving the creation of a partnership between a safer opioid supply program and an HIV PrEP program, both of which were nurse-led.
  • This novel integration of programs appeared to be a highly effective way to expand access to HIV prevention among people who use drugs.
  • Given the historical and current mistreatment of people who use drugs within the healthcare system, rapport, and trust were essential to the uptake of HIV PrEP services.
  • Further, the importance of infectious disease screening among people who use drugs is underscored, and built-in program flexibility and low barrier access is essential.
RESEARCH

We encourage NSS-CoP members to email info@nss-aps.ca with submissions to include in our newsletter. Content examples include but are not limited to community-led projects, peer-reviewed articles, grey literature, government publications, etc.

IN THE NEWS
National and General News: British Columbia: Alberta: Saskatchewan: Manitoba: Ontario: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut: Québec (et en français s'il vous plaît!): Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland):
COMMUNITY UPDATES & EVENTS
International Overdose Awareness Day 2022 - August 31st: International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end drug poisoning overdose death, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. The campaign raises awareness of drug poisoning overdose death and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy. The campaign acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose. Visit the website for resources, event ideas, online memorials, and more. For a list of all events happening across the country on August 31st, click here.



Registration for the 2022 Manitoba Harm Reduction Conference is now OPEN! In collaboration with Ka Ni Kanichihk and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network (MHRN) is hosting the 2022 Manitoba Harm Reduction Conference in Winnipeg from November 15th to 17th. This conference is a three-day event that will feature speakers from throughout Manitoba, Canada, and the United States as they share on a variety of topics related to harm reduction and sexual health. With a strong focus on Indigenous knowledge, anti-oppression, and root causes of harms related to substance use, MHRN aims to inspire conference participants to improve access to harm reduction services throughout Manitoba especially in rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities. Click here for more information and to register.



Survey: CRISM National OUD Guidelines: The Quebec-Atlantic node of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM) is currently conducting a literature review to update the National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder. Revisions will include the end of the section 56 exemption to prescribe methadone and post-COVID clinical changes. You can contribute by replying to this survey. If you have questions, please contact Noémie Harriet at: noemie.harriet.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.

OHRN Learning is a new platform for original harm reduction trainings, developed with community partners & Drug Culture Consultants. Expand your harm reduction knowledge, track your progress, receive certificates recognizing your work, and participate in discussions.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Share your skills:

We’d like to create opportunities for skills sharing. Let us know if you would like to offer a workshop or present to the membership.

Share your successes:

Share your success stories, your reports, and safer supply resources that you develop with the NSS-CoP membership through:

How can we help? Let us know what you need! Our goal is to support you by assisting in areas around your programs, organizations, and communities!

Have a question that you’d like to ask? Email us: info@nss-aps.ca or send a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
CONTACT US

https://www.nss-aps.ca/
info@nss-aps.ca
(519) 660-0875 ext. 1264

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