Connecting to Culture – Indigenous Harm Reduction

The 'Connecting to Culture' video series includes three videos. The videos are teaching tools intended to support discussions in First Nations communities about harm reduction, substance use and stigma. The series uses an Indigenous lens and includes the perspectives of Elders, peers and youth. 

• Teaching Guide for 'C​onnecting to Culture' (guide)
• Video One: Indigenous Harm Reduction (7 min)
• Video Two: Connecting to Others as Part of Harm Reduction (5 min)
• Video Three: Harm Reduction Practices in Communities (6 min)
• Indigenous Harm Reduction Principles and Practices (fact sheet)
  

Supporting Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Agonist Therapy 

Supporting Opioid Use Disorder ​​and Opioid Agonist Therapy - A resource to support nurses who work in First Nations communities providing trauma-informed and culturally safe care to clients who are prescribed Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT).​

Taking Care o​f Each Other

FNHA and Vancouver Coastal Health worked with filmmaker Asia Youngman to create a video series about Indigenous Harm Reduction. These videos are a teaching tool to help start discussions in Indigenous communities about harm reduction, substance use, and stigma, all from Indigenous perspectives.

We were especially interested in sharing the perspective of our dearly missed friend and colleague, Tracey Morrison. At the time of filming, Tracey was the president of the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society. We are grateful that we are able to share her inspiring words as we host these important discussions in Indigenous communities across the province and beyond.​​

•  Teaching Companion to Video Series (guide)
•  Video One: Harm Reduction 
•  Video Two: Indigenizing Harm Reduction
•  Video Three: Resisting Stigma 
• ​ Video Four​: Hopes for the Future​​​​

Indigenizing Harm Reduction

•  Indigenizing Harm Reduction UBC Learning Circle (video)
  

Take-Home Naloxone

Take Home Naloxone is a provincial program run through the BC Centre for Disease Control that aims to expand access to naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug that prevents overdose death. 

Physicians and Nurse Practitioners can write prescriptions for Naloxone. With the expansion of this program, Naloxone kits can also be ordered and dispensed by registered nurses to people with past or current opioid use (prescription or non-prescription). It is crucial for community health nurses to be engaged with people who are using drugs; otherwise, this life-saving treatment will not reach those most in need.

To register your community as a Take Home Naloxone site:

1. complete Take Home Naloxone: Information for New Sites 
2. fax to (604) 707-2516

For questions about the registration process, email:  outreach@towardtheheart.com

For more information, see Toward the Heart.

Res​ources

• Addictions Medicine Support Line for Clinicians​ 
  
• BC Harm Reduction Strategies and Services Policy and Guidelines
  
• Community Naloxone Program for RN non-Certified Practice Implementation – BC CDC Opioid Overdose Prevention Program
  
• Decision Support Tool (DST) for the use of naloxone HCl (Narcan) in the management of suspected opioid overdose in outreach and harm reduction settings
• Finding Your Pathway to Treatment (Info Sheet)
  
• Harm Reduction and Take Home Naloxone in BC First Nations Communities (FNHA news item | FNHA presentation)
• Not Just Naloxone Workshop (Info Sheet)
  
• Opioid Use Disorder Care​ (Info Sheet)
  

FNHA Indigenous ​​Wellness Program

• Program fac​t sheet​