Our three Talkers will focus on the current opioid crisis and help participants understand progress to date, the challenges (including an inaccurate public perception), discrimination against those who use substances (which can often be people we know but don’t realize are substance users) and a lack of understanding or misinformation.
Medical Health Officer for Central Vancouver Island, Dr. Hasselback, will present the data, that among other things, will help people understand that the crisis isn’t something that’s happening on the streets or in parks with someone who doesn’t have a home, but rather, most overdoses are occurring in private residences.
Dr. Bernie Pauly, an associate professor in the University of Victoria, School of Nursing, whose primary focus of research is reducing health inequities associated with substance use, poverty, and homelessness; will speak to what we can learn from other countries and what we need to do here at home.
Dr. McCune, Manager of Practice Support at Island Health will speak about supporting families and circles of care impacted by the poisoning crisis. (Note: Some health care professionals say the term ‘overdose’ increases stigma and is medically inaccurate.)
The session will end with a facilitated community conversation.