A research lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is currently testing a new, portable drug-checking device that could help to identify smaller concentrations of drug components. The laboratory, led by Dr. Jason Hein, associate professor in the Chemistry Department, is testing a novel version of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instruments to identify drug … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to the results of a new study, the proportion of opioid-linked overdose deaths involving buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, did not significantly increase after prescribing flexibilities were introduced in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was carried out as a collaboration between the U.S. National Institute on Drug … Continued
Continue ReadingA recent analysis published by CBC News and authored by Judy Aldous and Carla Turner examined the composition of drugs seized in the Calgary community. According to data provided by the Calgary Police Service, in terms of drugs dealt by the gram, cocaine accounted for approximately 35% of drugs seized, followed by methamphetamine (20%), fentanyl … Continued
Continue ReadingA recent analysis published by CBC News and authored by Judy Aldous, Carla Turner, and Taylor Simmons examined the reasons behind the rise in overdose-related deaths among men working in trades. Isolation, lifestyle, and physical aspects of the job have been identified as some of the main contributing factors leading to drug use among men … Continued
Continue ReadingDATAC is starting off 2023 with some new ways to build your industry knowledge! This year we are bringing you a series of webinars to help you navigate the complicated world of drug and alcohol testing in Canada. Often, due to the lack of regulations for drug and alcohol testing in Canada, employers find themselves … Continued
Continue ReadingA recent editorial published by the McGill Daily and authored by Yunjie Zhang discussed recent efforts to address Canada’s ongoing opioid crisis, as well as the essential roles of decriminalization and safe supply in harm reduction in Montreal. According to data released by the federal government, there were 32,632 opioid-related deaths over the period spanning … Continued
Continue ReadingAs part of new harm reduction measures funded by the federal government, vending machines that dispense harm reduction items including HIV self-testing kits, clean needles, and naloxone kits have been installed in Atlantic Canada. In addition, there are plans to install one hundred more similar vending machines across Canada over the next three years in … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to a new analysis by Postmedia, the recent decriminalization of small amounts of specific illicit drugs in B.C. could decrease the number of seizures of some drugs by more than half. Following the decriminalization, which took place on January 31, B.C. adults will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 grams of cocaine, MDMA, … Continued
Continue ReadingIn recent months, xylazine, a potent sedative circulating in the illicit drug supply in the United States, has been increasingly detected in Canada’s street drugs, as health experts have raised concerns due to its risk of contributing to overdose-related deaths. Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer and analgesic used in veterinary medicine and, specifically, on large … Continued
Continue ReadingEarlier in January, the Banff Public Library launched a pilot program which combines harm reduction approaches with access to relevant information in order to address the ongoing opioid crisis in Alberta. Moreover, the library had partnered with primary care networks in the area to provide free drug testing kits in the Bow Valley in anticipation … Continued
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