Regina and Area Drug Strategy Summary Harm Reduction Hoedown: Harm Reduction and Abstinence Can They

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Regina and Area Drug StrategySummary Harm
Reduction Hoedown Harm Reduction and Abstinence
Can They Dance?April 2007Steering Committee
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Objective To increase knowledge and
understanding of the addictions continuum of
services. To strengthen awareness of the impact
of addictions on vulnerable populations.
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Intended Outcomes
There will be a better understanding of the harm
reduction and abstinence models as they fit in
the continuum of addiction service. There will be
an increased knowledge between theory and
practice when working with vulnerable
populations. There will be an opportunity to
embrace a common language for talking about and
working in addictions There will be a better
understanding of treatment models in addictions.
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Intended Audience
Front line and supervisory personnel working
with addicted youth and adults
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Public Health Agency Canada

• Public Health Agency Canada sponsored this
  learning event.
• Funding provided to help further address
  vulnerable populations young mothers, FASD
  prevention work.
• Funding came as a recognition of work being done
  in the community to address the impact of
  addictions.

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Evaluation of Harm Reduction Hoedown

• What participants liked
• Harm Reduction Within the Circle of Care
• Methadone Program
• Hep C overview
• Networking opportunity
• Hospitality / free workshop
• Real life success story
• Gang Video RU Down, RU Out
• Hand outs

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Evaluation continued
What participants said they did not like Too
much focus on Harm Reduction Group work and
reporting back NO MORE Offer only one activity
during noon hour Absence of youth at
workshop Poorly worded questionnaire
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Evaluation continued Next Time

• Addiction content specific training
• Strategies for working with addicted people
• Address concurrent mental health and addictions
• Develop broader viewpoint of Harm Reduction
• Include users, youth in workshop
• More real life stories
• Develop and share contact lists
• Develop newsletter- enhance communications

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Themes
Harm Reduction Hoedown Themes Leadership Servic
e Delivery Model Continued Learning Communicatio
n and information flow Equity challenges Evaluat
ion of Models Enforcement
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Leadership

• Leadership from management is essential to and
  for commitment of resources (NL)
• Identify point people champions
• Leading by example
• Commitment to action

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• Service Delivery Model
• Adopt a strength based approaches in the
  development of programs and supports for clients
  (NL)
• continued emphasis on partnerships and
  collaboration (NL)
• Advocate for harm reduction services to inmates
  in correctional facilities (NL)
• Advocate for increased support for youth
  addictions (NL)
• Apply the determinants of health model (NL)
• Circle of Care model, adopt continuum of care
  model

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• Service Delivery Model
• Social housing (NL)
• Brief and social detox improvements in service
  (NL)
• Identify gaps in service hours of service,
  location of services, more integrated case
  management (NL)
• list of doctors who will treat Hep C patients
• targeted intervention / prevention with specific
  populations
• more visible presence of police in targeted
  communities
• more culturally appropriate programming (NL)

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• Service Delivery Model
• Increase focus on working with families as well
  as individuals
• A need for government agencies / First Nations
  to develop better working relationships
• Need for more rural services

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• Continued Learning
• more education for cbo personnel
• Increase level of qualifications of addiction
  workers
• Offer both generic and specific training in
  addictions
• Cross training in addictions and mental health
• Increase education prevention in school systems

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• Communications and Information Flow
• Confidentiality and sharing of information
  protocol, improve on existing practices (NL)
• Develop more open communication between agencies
• Develop and share centralized web site /
  directory of services difficult to keep up with
  changes
• Improve case management
• Understanding other agencies / professional role

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• Equity Challenges
• Address the salary inequity between partners
  providing services to clients. (NL)
• Youth lacking services in Regina and area
• Need for long term funding for existing agencies
  (Funding Matters)
• Increasing accessibility for clients
• Address the systemic barriers related to poverty,
  racism

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• Evaluation of Harm Reduction
• Local outcomes of (harm) reduction programs to
  see how well current programs are working (NL)
• Lack of evidence that methadone program is
  working
• Commentary due to difference of opinion
  about harm reduction and abstinence

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• Enforcement and Role of Police
• Enforcement by police services to shut down drug
  houses
• Let community policing be community policing,
  evidence of more professionals visible in the
  hood

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• Next Steps
• Present results to Steering Committee
• Working Groups identify what needs to be
  addressed
• Plan for next year and the future
• Communications Plan distribution lists, web site
  update, quarterly newsletter