In this issue of the BC ECHO on Substance Use newsletter, you’ll find resources, news updates, and feature articles on topics related to substance use care in BC and Yukon.
Managing Co-occurring Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders
Approximately one-third of individuals prescribed treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) also meet the criteria for high-risk drinking or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Concurrent use of alcohol and opioids, including opioid agonist treatment (OAT), is associated with an increased risk of respiratory depression, overdose, and death. Alcohol use is a known risk factor for fatal overdose among individuals prescribed opioids. Individuals with OUD who engage in high-risk alcohol use a may also experience increased difficulty with OAT adherence.
Check out these resources and learnings for an overview of evidence-based screening and treatment options:
- Resource: BCCSU At a Glance Resource for Clinicians
- Watch: ECHO session on Managing Co-occurring Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders
Call for Nominations:
Annual BCCSU Awards
Submit your nominations now for the Annual BCCSU Awards to recognize members of the community who have made significant contributions to improve substance use strategies in BC. Recipients will be announced during the pre-conference kick-off event, leading up to the BC Substance Use Conference.
Nomination Submission deadline: May 25, 2021
Awards Presentation: June 16, 2021 from 4:30 – 5:00pm
BC ECHO on Substance Use programming
Reminder: BC ECHO on Substance Use sessions are now on our YouTube channel.
You can also sign up for upcoming sessions of the BC ECHO on Substance Use at bcechoonsubstanceuse.ca. Here’s what’s coming up:
Alcohol Use Disorder ECHO
June 1, 12pm – 1pm: Alcohol withdrawal management
Opioid Use Disorder ECHO
June 24, 9am – 10am: Management of opioid use disorder with injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT)
We want your cases!
During the ECHO sessions case presenters from diverse clinical backgrounds (e.g., family practice, nursing, pharmacy) have an opportunity to receive guidance and recommendations on patient cases in their practice from addiction experts. Presenting a case includes submitting a brief written case summary and joining an ECHO session to give a 5-minute de-identified overview of the case and questions for clinical consultation.
To submit a de-identified patient case for an ECHO session, providers are asked to fill out the case presentation form, or submit a brief paragraph to BCECHOonsubstanceuse@bccsu.ubc.ca.
New Resources for Substance Use Care
Guidelines for partnering with people with lived and living experience of substance use and their families and friends
People with lived and living experience of substance use and their families and friends (LLEAFF) are experts in the field of substance use. Partnering with LLEAFF groups is key to ensure that research is relevant and that services designed for people from LLEAFF groups meet their needs. This document provides guidance for working with people with lived and living experience of substance use and their families and friends and is intended for individuals and organizations who partner or wish to partner with people from LLEAFF groups.
News from Around BC
- News (from Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions): Minister’s statement on March illicit drug toxicity deaths report
- News (from Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions): Expanding vital mental health, substance use services to help young people thrive
- News (from Toward the Heart): Launch of Sterifilt Fast and safer smoking supply update
- News (from First Nations Health Authority): New harm reduction campaign aims to “increase the support, reduce the harm”
- News (from Island Health): Overdose awareness campaign aims to reach men who use drugs alone
- News (from Island Health): Community conversations coming for Cowichan Valley Wellness and Recovery Centre
- News (from CBC North): Time to try safe consumption sites to fight opioid crisis, says Yukon’s top doctor
- News (from CBC North): Prioritize ‘safe supply’ in opioid crisis, says Yukon harm-reduction group
News from Across Canada
- News (from Canadian Institute for Health Information): New report on the impacts of COVID-19 on harms caused by substance use and an associated resource page (published by Public Health Agency of Canada)
- News (from Government of Canada): Canadian Pain Task Force Report | March 2021
- News (from Government of Canada): STATEMENT – COVID-19: Focus on Substance Use and Stigma
- News (from Government of Canada): Government of Canada supports safer supply project for people with opioid use disorder in Peterborough