Normalizing Conversations: Engaging public health, public safety, and communities to build capacity for a public health approach to substance use

About Mainline Needle Exchange (Nova Scotia):

Mainline, a program of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, is a health promotion organization dedicated to supporting people who use drugs through harm reduction programs. Their mission is to reduce acquisition and transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B & C, to increase awareness of health and social issues facing PWUD, and to help current and former PWUD through education, support and empowerment.

• Community Assessment Report for Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Mainline Needle Exchange) 
• Download the report appendices here 

About Manitoba Harm Reduction Network (Manitoba):
The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network (MHRN) works toward equitable access, systemic change, and reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) through advocacy, policy work, education, research and relationships. They do this by operating several peer-led harm reduction networks across the province that provide services, education, advocacy and events that are relevant to their specific communities.

• Community Assessment Report for Manitoba (Manitoba Harm Reduction Network)
• Download the report appendices here 

About Thunder Bay Drug Strategy (Ontario):
The Thunder Bay Drug Strategy’s (TBDS) mission is to create and implement a drug strategy for the City of Thunder Bay, district, and region, that reflects the needs and strengths of its citizens. The strategy will focus on humane approaches that address the causes and effects of harm associated with substance use. Their vision is to improve the health, safety and well-being of all citizens by working together to reduce substance related harms.

• Community Assessment Report for Thunder Bay, Ontario (Thunder Bay Drug Strategy)  

Challenging Structural Substance Use Stigma Workshop Package - 2024

The Challenging Structural Stigma Workshop Package, developed in partnership with CAPSA, is designed to provide a comprehensive learning opportunity for health and social service providers who work in the substance use health field. It is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to: identify different forms of stigma; advocate for change; and meaningfully partner with people with lived or living experience of substance use.  

The workshop can be delivered online or in person, in one 6-hour session or two 3-hour sessions and was designed for groups of 10 to 25 participants. The package has all the materials and supporting documents needed to deliver the workshop in your organization or community. Find it on SURE!

What We Heard Report: Improving Healthcare Provider Interactions with Young People (who may or may not use drugs) – 2024

This report provides a summary and overview of the findings from a series of outreach engagements conducted by Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s (CSSDP) Get Sensible project, in collaboration with the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA).

This report presents findings from a peer-led engagement initiative focused on examining the relationship between healthcare providers and young people, aged 18-30, who use drugs in Canada. Written by young people who use drugs (YPWUD), this report aims to shed light on the challenges faced by YPWUD when accessing healthcare services and to propose strategies to foster more meaningful and supportive connections between YPWUD and healthcare providers. Find it on SURE! 

• Download the Best Practices Checklist for Healthcare Providers Working with Young People Who use Drugs.   
• Download the Guide for Talking to Healthcare Providers 
   

Cannabasics: A Primer for Health and Social Service Providers– 2023

This primer serves as a valuable resource for healthcare and social service providers, delivering evidence-based insights into cannabis, its consumption methods, and fundamental principles of harm reduction. It has been crafted to offer a sufficiently detailed overview, enabling frontline professionals to engage in meaningful conversations with clients who use cannabis, and if needed, offer them appropriate harm reduction guidance.

In partnership with the CPHA, the Cannabasics Information Package, initially published in 2018, has been updated by Dr. Daniel Bear, a cannabis researcher with nearly 20 years’ experience studying drug policy. Find it on SURE! 

Final Report: Survey of Public Health, Public Safety, Health and Social Service Professionals on a Public Health Approach to Substance Use – 2023 

As part of the Normalizing Conversations project, the project team conducted a survey of public health, public safety and health and social service providers to better understand key stakeholder beliefs and attitudes, knowledge levels, and access to information, resources and training about substance use.  Find it on SURE!

• Read the research snapshot here
• Download the report appendix here

A Public Health Approach to Substance Use Handbook – 2023 

This handbook was created by the Centre of Excellence for Women's Health and the Canadian Public Health Association to describe and illustrate several key principles of a public health approach to substance use. The main objectives of this handbook are to increase readers' familiarity with the underlying principles of such an approach, share relevant information, definitions, and frameworks to support learning, and provide practical examples and additional resources.
Find it on SURE!  

Organizational Assessment Tool for Substance Use and Stigma – 2023  

This tool was developed in partnership with CAPSA to help organizations identify policies, along with environmental and cultural factors that contribute to substance use stigma and discrimination. It can assist organizations in developing strategies for reducing stigma to create safer, more supportive environments and build policies and practices that are supportive and inclusive for staff, volunteers and individuals seeking care. Find it on SURE!

Key Informant Interview Report – November 2022  

Between March of 2020 and January of 2021, CPHA interviewed 17 key informants involved in substance use-related work across Canada. These individuals represented: people who use/d substances, harm reduction and community organization employees, health system professionals (both public health and acute care), public safety professionals, academics, and non-governmental organization (NGO) employees and volunteers.  

The summary of findings is organized as follows: 

• What is happening currently to support people who use/d substances 
• What the community would like to see to support people who use/d substances 
• Needs and next steps to close the gaps between the current and desired states for a public health approach to substance  

Focus Group Report with Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC) & CAPSA – August 2021  

In July and August of 2021, CAPSA, CPHA, and Somerset West Community Health Centre facilitated several focus groups with people who access substance use care to gain their perspectives on how their health needs and goals are addressed. We want to thank each person with lived or living experience from across the country who shared their experiences and knowledge with us through these focus groups. We recognize and value the expertise that each of these individuals hold and appreciate the range of perspectives they have contributed.