Substance Use

BC coroners report of illicit drug overdose deaths in past year. Reference: BC Coroners Service. (2022). Illicit drug toxicity deaths in BC: January 1, 2012-September 30, 2022

NIDA discusses the common illnesses associated with substance use. How significantly SUD can negatively affect people. STATS on prevalence. Reference: NIDA. (2020, July). Addiction and Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/addiction-health

Article discussing various social determinents of health that contribute to substance use. Good description of neurochemical changes/adaptations of brain with addiction. Reference: Bujarski, S., Lim, A. C., & Ray, L. A. (2018). Prevalence, Causes, and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Primer. Judges’ Journal, 57(1), 10–15.

Article discussing the HUB at St. Paul's. Various opioid use statistics in BC. Relevent resources for SUD when in acute care settings and communty based settings. Reference: Imtiaz, S., Hayashi, K., & Nolan, S. (2021). An Innovative Acute Care Based Intervention to Address the Opioid Crisis in a Canadian Setting. Drug & Alcohol Review, 40(4), 553–556. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13193

Substance use can be a barrier to stable housing for homeless persons with mental disorders. Discussion of comorbidities in those with SUD and mental health concerns. Reference: Palepu, A., Patterson, M., Strehlau, V., Moniruzzamen, A., de Bibiana, J. T., Frankish, J., Krausz, M., & Somers, J. (2013). Daily Substance Use and Mental Health Symptoms among a Cohort of Homeless Adults in Vancouver, British Columbia. Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 90(4), 740–746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-012-9775-6