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Category: covid research

  • Provincial/Territorial Class Exemptions for Supervised Consumption Site Operators

    Provincial/Territorial Class Exemptions for Supervised Consumption Site Operators

    class exemption for supervised consumption sites

    class exemption for supervised consumption sites

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    “Health Canada proactively issued class exemptions to provinces and territories to ensure they have the tools needed to manage the compounding effects of the opioids overdose crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic on their communities. Specifically, the class exemptions will help in the overall response to the pandemic by reducing the administrative burden of having organizations applying for a supervised consumption site, or temporary overdose prevention site. Creating new spaces, as may be needed, or adjusting existing supervised consumption sites to respect public health guidance will prevent ongoing community spread of COVID-19 amongst a vulnerable population, help guard against community transmission, and preserve capacity amongst essential frontline healthcare workers.

    In issuing these exemptions, Health Canada will ensure a high degree of cooperation is maintained to ensure our collective response to the pandemic remains robust and comprehensive.”

    Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Policing the Pandemic: Tracking the Policing of Covid-19 across Canada

    Policing the Pandemic: Tracking the Policing of Covid-19 across Canada

    policing the pandemic policing the pandemic

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    “Across Canada, there has been an extraordinary scaling-up in police powers and presence in response to the virus’ spread. States of emergency have been declared in every province and territory, shutting down non-essential businesses, mandating self-isolation for recent travellers, and imposing physical distancing rules. These and other virus containment rules are being enforced via provincial public health law, emergency legislation, the criminal code, and municipal by-laws, resulting in hefty fines, and a risk of potential jail time for re-offences. In certain locations, check-points have been set up, while in other areas, people are being required to identify themselves when questioned by police.

    In some jurisdictions, police and municipal by-law officers have been given the power to enforce public health and emergency orders. Furthermore, a myriad of “snitch lines” have been launched across Canada in an effort to bolster police intelligence via crowdsourcing. These snitch lines are encouraging people to report on those in their community breaking rules under the new pandemic normal.”

    Source: Policing the Pandemic

  • Rights in the time of COVID-19: Lessons from HIV for an effective, community-led response

    Rights in the time of COVID-19: Lessons from HIV for an effective, community-led response

    covid 19 lessons from hiv covid 19 lessons from hiv

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    “In times of fear and panic, some countries may resort to politically-driven, restrictive, stigmatizing and punitive measures. These may include compulsory blanket travel restrictions, quarantining large groups of people, combining people who have and people who do not have the virus, publishing the names and details of people who have the virus, using stigmatizing language such as “super-spreaders” or criminalizing people who may have breached restrictions or transmitted the virus to others.”

    “From the HIV epidemic we have learned that restrictive, stigmatizing and punitive measures can lead to significant human rights abuses, with disproportionate effects on already vulnerable communities. They can often undermine epidemic responses, sending people with symptoms underground and failing to address the underlying barriers that people face in attempting to protect their own health and that of their community. Indeed, for COVID-19, the World Health Organization does not advise implementing compulsory large-scale restrictive measures such as disproportionate or overly restrictive bans on travel or free movement.”

    Source: UNAIDS

  • Expanding access to diacetylmorphine & hydromorphone in Canada

    Expanding access to diacetylmorphine & hydromorphone in Canada

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    Abstract: The increasing incidence of fatal opioid overdose is a public health crisis in Canada. While buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone are the standard first-line of opioid substitution options, limitations, including difficulty achieving long-term retention for some people who use opioids, are well known. For this group, injectable diacetylmorphine or hydromorphone can achieve positive outcomes, including high retention rates, reduced use of unregulated opioids, and reduced criminal activity.

    In May 2019, Health Canada announced changes to increase the accessibility of diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone, and in September 2019, the CIHR-funded Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse released a national clinical guideline for diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone as additional frontline substitution options.

    While these developments present opportunities for scale-up, significant financial, structural, and practice barriers continue to impede access. This commentary explores the current state of policy and practice for diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone as opioid substitution options in Canada, outlines the rationale for rapid expansion of access, and highlights clinical and policy changes that must be undertaken or the death toll will continue to rise.

  • FAQ: Class Exemption for Controlled Substances during COVID-19

    FAQ: Class Exemption for Controlled Substances during COVID-19

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    The World Health Organization’s declaration on March 11, 2020, that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now a pandemic and has marked a significant shift in the response from communities across Canada and at all levels of government.

    In response to this evolving health risk, the Office of Controlled Substances has issued a short-term subsection 56(1) exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the public interest. This exemption authorizes pharmacists to prescribe, sell, or provide controlled substances in limited circumstances, or transfer prescriptions for controlled substances.

  • CDSA Exemption and Interpretive Guide for Controlled Substances

    CDSA Exemption and Interpretive Guide for Controlled Substances

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    To maintain Canadians’ access to controlled substances for medical treatments (e.g., treatment of substance use disorders and chronic pain), while they adhere to social distancing guidance from public health officials or if they need to self-isolate, Health Canada has issued the attached exemptions for prescriptions of controlled substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and its Regulations.

    If permitted within the applicable provincial/territorial scopes of practice, the exemptions:

    • permit pharmacists to extend prescriptions;
    • permit pharmacists to transfer prescriptions to other pharmacists;
    • permit prescribers to issue verbal orders (i.e., over the phone) to extend or refill a prescription; and
    • permit pharmacy employees to deliver prescriptions of controlled substances to patient’s homes or other locations where they may be (i.e self isolating).

    “We strongly encourage all partners to work to implement these exemptions in their jurisdictions and welcome any additional suggestions you may have to maintain Canadians’ access to controlled substances for medical reasons during the pandemic.”

    ~ Health Canada