Work in Progress Seminar: Finding silence in the noise: Towards a data-driven understanding of the unregulated drug poisoning (overdose) crisis in B.C.

CHÉOS Scientist and Senior Scientist for the BC Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Amanda Slaunwhite, will be presenting ‘Finding silence in the noise: Towards a data-driven understanding of the unregulated drug poisoning (overdose) crisis in B.C.’ at CHÉOS’ upcoming Work in Progress Seminar.

Since the provincial public health emergency declaration in 2016, over 11,000 British Columbians have died from unregulated drug poisoning (overdose). The crisis worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with increases in fatal and non-fatal overdose events across the province. Interventions such as prescribed/non-prescribed safer supply have been proposed to address the primary driver of the overdose emergency (fentanyl in the unregulated drug supply). The introduction of these interventions occurred alongside growing public and media interest in substance use, with misinformation about the drivers of the overdose crisis becoming more pervasive. This presentation will describe new and emerging epidemiological trends in overdose, and explain how administrative health data and information collected by people with lived/living experience are being used to evaluate prescribed safer supply, decriminalization, and access to health and social services among formerly incarcerated people post-release.

This is a hybrid event, you may attend in person at the Hurlburt Auditorium (St. Paul’s Hospital) or virtually. Please register and indicate your preference.