April 2022 CSAM-SMCA 2022 Annual Scientific Conference The theme for our 2022 Annual Scientific Conference this year is, “What’s Next:  The Future of Addiction Medicine in Canada.”  The theme resonates with many aspects of addiction medicine at this time.  “What’s Next” with the pandemic?  Will there be subsequent waves with new variants, which disproportionally affect the vulnerable, including those with substance use disorders?  “What’s Next” for the potency and composition of street drugs in Canada?  Will we continue to see highly toxic opioids, mixtures of un ..read more

Evidence-based resources to assist healthcare and social service providers in recognizing and responding safely to family violence Intimate partner violence (IPV, or domestic violence) refers to behaviours by an intimate partner or ex-partner that can cause or causes physical, sexual or psychological harm (1).  Regrettably, interpersonal violence is all too common in Canada, with 14% of Canadians aged 15 and over reporting emotional or financial abuse from a spouse or common-law partner sometime in the past (2).  One of the risk factors for IPV is addiction (3).  Both Substanc ..read more

December 2021 December is a time of looking back, and looking ahead. For CSAM-SMCA, 2021 has been a year of growth, and expansion of our virtual connections across the country. CSAM-SMCA Policy Committee We began the year with the release of our policy paper supporting the decriminalization of drugs for personal use. Our statement has been endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian College of Family Physicians, with other organizations currently considering adding their endorsement. For 2022, CSAM-SMCA and the Policy Committee are looking ahead to see how we can move beyon ..read more

Carol Hopkins Carol Hopkins has been a pioneer in the field of First Nations substance use and mental health for more than 25 years. An Officer in the Order of Canada, she has been at the helm of some of Canada’s most important national initiatives and now works as the Executive Director of the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, a division of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation. She holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Western University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a degree in sacred Indigenous Knowledge, equivalent to a PhD in wester ..read more

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: Safe Supply Panel Discussion appeared first on CSAM ..read more

September 2021 For me, September brings the new academic year and a renewed focus on education for myself and my children. This year, between school starting, the federal election and the pandemic, there are many changes and much feels unsettled and uncertain. That is true in the world of addiction medicine too. CSAM-SMCA 2021 Annual Scientific Conference Our Annual Scientific Conference is approaching quickly. Although we had hoped to meet in person, I am pleased we are offering an extensive and exciting virtual conference again this year. Our conference platform is easier to use, and our s ..read more

This group is committed to providing medical students and trainees with the knowledge and skills they need to understand and help Canadians with Substance Use Disorders. The CSAM-SMCA’s Medical Student Special Interest Group is for Canadian medical students who want to advance their understanding of addiction medicine. Guided by Board Members Dr. Naved Ali, Dr. Brooke Noftle and Medical Student Marika Moska, the group builds on standard medical school training to help students learn about the etiology, assessment and treatment of people with Substance Use Disorders, and offers members the op ..read more

Improve your knowledge of current research, discuss best practices and connect with your peers at our Fall Journal Club sessions! Our CSAM-SMCA Journal Club is back for Fall sessions! Each month we’ll select two journal articles and send them to you via email. Then we’ll gather together on Zoom to discuss our thoughts, experiences, opinions and potential applications of the research. “We are excited to be back after the summer and connect with our colleagues, once again. Our hope is to stimulate conversation about emerging research and best practices in our field of work,” Journal Club Dire ..read more

"It's important as a clinician to be a person first, be a physician second.” COVID-19 has not only dramatically changed how those with substance use disorders receive treatment, it has also directly impacted those providing care, according to speakers at a special COVID-19 track at the 2020 ISAM-CSAM Scientific Conference.  Dr. Baldacchino, President of the International Society of Addiction Medicine, emphasized the pressure the pandemic has placed on the individuals in the health care profession. Both mental and physical effects have been noted, and the experiences of th ..read more

June 2021 Summer is upon us and vaccinations proceed across Canada, hopefully leading to reduced COVID-19 infections and the gradual resumption of activities that have been prohibited for many months. Everyone working in addictions is aware of how the pandemic has highlighted the social and economic disparities that lead to inequities in health care.   The biggest topic of discussion in addictions these days is prescription of a “safe supply.”  That is, prescribing opioid medication (usually hydromorphone) for unwitnessed use by persons with Opioid Use Disorder, intended to re ..read more