In this episode, journalist David P. Ball and outreach primary care physician Dr. Terri Aldred discuss the importance of culturally safe and trauma informed substance use care for Indigenous communities. Dr. Aldred shares how her lived experience informs her medical practice, caring for Indigenous Peoples experiencing challenges rooted in coloniali…

In this episode, journalist David P. Ball is joined by Dr. Marcus Greatheart, a family physician, registered social worker, and author. Together, they explore how clinicians can create safe and affirming spaces for trans and gender-diverse youth in substance use care by addressing systemic barriers, promoting trauma-informed approaches, and challen…

In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, journalist David Ball and addiction medicine physician, Dr. Nitasha Puri, discuss the importance of culturally tailored care, drawing on Dr. Puri’s research and experiences from working at Roshni Clinic, which provides care for South Asian adults in Surrey, BC. David and Dr. Puri also speak with Anmol …

In this episode, journalist David P. Ball and rural generalist physician and current addiction medicine fellow, Dr. Alison Hamilton, discuss the most challenging and rewarding aspects of working in rural and remote communities. They also speak with Charlene Burmeister, former guest from Season 1, about how the Coalition for Substance Users in the N…

In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, journalist David P. Ball and perinatal addiction medicine specialist Dr. Eric Cattoni discuss the unique challenges facing people who are pregnant and use substances and the importance of building therapeutic rapport and trust. David and Dr. Cattoni then speak with three experts from the Families in Re…

In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, journalist David P. Ball and occupational addiction medicine physician and supreme court expert Dr. Deborah Kason discuss how to navigate substance use care for people working in construction and other safety-sensitive jobs. This type of work involves risks of harm to the worker, others, or property if…

In this episode, award-winning journalist David P. Ball and First Nations Health Authority’s Medical Officer, Mental Health and Wellness, Dr. Nolan Hop Wo discuss the impact of stereotypes related to Indigenous people and alcohol use. Together, they speak with Beryl Parke, a Traditional Wellness Worker at First Nations Health Authority. Beryl is fr…

In this episode, award-winning journalist David P. Ball and award-winning family physician Dr. Robert Fox speak with Kali Sedgemore, the president of the Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War and a skilled harm reductionist with a focus on supporting youth. Kali is from 'Namgis First Nation, a small remote island off of Vancouver Island North…

In this episode, award-winning journalist David P. Ball and family physician Dr. Esther Tailfeathers speak with Maura Gowans, a counselling consultant for Indigenous people, about the role that connection to culture can play in healing and wellness. Together, they discuss the importance of bringing together traditional Indigenous approaches and Wes…

Addressing the health needs of individuals in remote and rural Indigenous communities, as well as Indigenous people living in urban areas, requires a shift from Western-centric solutions. To emphasize the diversity of Indigenous Peoples, tailored and culturally-relevant approaches are crucial. This can include mobilizing peer and family support, re…

Navigating abstinence-based perspectives in substance use care can be complex. Within Indigenous communities, these complexities also intersect with the impacts of colonialism. Abstinence-based perspectives may arise or align with Indigenous teachings, they may stem from imposed colonial values, or both may be true. It is important to recognize tha…

The ongoing impacts of colonization continue to affect the health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples, evident in the disproportionate rates of toxic drug poisonings and deaths experienced by Indigenous people as compared to non-Indigenous people. Addressing the harms related to substance use in these communities involves acknowledging and reducing …

Families, including chosen families, can be an extremely important source of support in a person’s substances use care journey, but are often overlooked in substance use care planning. In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, co-hosts David Ball and Christina Chant discuss the complexities and strengths of involving families in substance use …

Prescribed safer supply aims to provide access to a legal and regulated supply of drugs, in order to reduce the risk of harms and death associated with using the increasingly toxic unregulated drug supply. In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, Dr. Marcus Greatheart and journalist David Ball discuss prescribed safer supply with guests who h…

Introducing the Addiction Practice PodBy BC Centre on Substance Use

Through providing small doses of alcohol to clients regularly, managed alcohol programs reduce the risks associated with heavy drinking and non-beverage alcohol consumption without requiring abstinence. In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, Dr. Marcus Greatheart and David Ball talk with public health researcher and executive director of th…

Urine drug testing (UDT) is an important part of providing care to individuals with substance use disorders, from confirming baseline substance use to evaluating treatment outcomes. However, many individuals have had negative experiences with UDT. When UDT procedures feel punitive, it can impact whether an individual will continue to access care. I…

Individuals and communities in BC are facing an increased risk of stimulant-related harms. Stimulant use can cause significant harms on its own, including negative cardiac and mental health outcomes. In the context of the unregulated drug supply, toxic drug poisonings can occur due to contamination of stimulants with opioids and other substances. I…

Alcohol withdrawal management is an important part of the continuum of care for alcohol use disorder. While some individuals at low risk of complications can safely undergo alcohol withdrawal at home, others may require inpatient withdrawal management services to prevent life-threatening complications. In this episode of Addiction Practice Pod, Dr.…

In Canada and around the world, colonial histories continue to influence people's access to determinants of good health. Our society continues to advantage White people, and addiction medicine is no exception. In this episode, Dr. Robert Fox, David Ball, and their guests discuss the intersections of race, ethnicity, and substance use. How can we ma…

Evidence-based treatments often focus on a specific type of substance, like opioids or stimulants. However, many people have more than one substance that they use frequently. In this episode, Dr. Lindsay Mackay, David Ball and their guests talk about co-occurring substance use and its implications in clinical care. In particular, they discuss co-oc…

When it comes to treatment for substance use disorders, there’s no silver bullet. Medications can be important to support people with their recovery goals, but psychosocial treatments can provide a different kind of support and ensure medications provide the most benefit possible. In this episode, Christina Chant and David Ball talk with guests abo…

Co-occurring chronic pain is common among people with substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorder (OUD). Studies suggest that between 36 and 68% of people on opioid agonist treatment for OUD also have chronic pain. In this episode, Dr. Rita McCracken and David Ball talk with guests about chronic pain and OUD. How can we respond to new…

Alcohol use is highly prevalent, but there is still a lot of stigma associated with alcohol use disorder. In this episode of the Addiction Practice Pod, Dr. Roland Engelbrecht and David Ball talk with guests about alcohol harm reduction, treatment, and the impacts of alcohol use disorder on family and loved ones. We’d love to hear your feedback aft…

By BC Centre on Substance Use

Nearly five British Columbians are dying every day of an overdose, but Indigneous peoples in our region face disproportionate harms: If you’re Indigenous, you are four times more likely to die of an overdose than the rest of the population In this episode, family physician and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Robert Fox and journalist David Ball d…

The criminalization of substance use causes demonstrable harms: it isolates people who use drugs, pushes them to use in riskier ways, and deters them from seeking help when they need it. Even so, the possession of illicit street drugs for personal consumption is still criminalized in British Columbia and the rest of Canada. In this episode, addicti…

Young people are the fastest-growing age demographic for hospitalizations due to opioid poisoning in Canada. In British Columbia, more than 1000 youth between the ages of 10 and 29 have died of overdose since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. This episode of Addiction Practice Pod focuses on caring for youth who use substances. Addict…

Research shows that people with substance use disorders are more likely to have a history of trauma and violence than the general population. This can include negative experiences with police and with medical professionals. On this episode of Addiction Practice Pod, addiction physician Dr. Christy Sutherland and journalist David Ball take a deep di…

Want to bring treatment for substance use disorder into your practice, but not sure where to start? In this episode of Addiction Practice Pod, addiction physician Dr. Christy Sutherland, journalist David P. Ball and their guests talk about the nuts and bolts of integrating treatment for opioid use disorder into a family practice. They also discuss …

What does it take for people struggling with opioid use disorder to achieve recovery? And what does “recovery” mean to each person? In this episode of Addiction Practice Pod, addiction physician Dr. Christy Sutherland, journalist David Ball and their guests talk about the different ways in which people who use drugs define recovery, and how clinici…