Harm Reduction in Nova Scotia: Putting Principles into Practice Workshop


This interactive in-person workshop will aim to improve the comfort and skills of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists, social workers, addiction counsellors, community outreach workers, medical residents, students, & other allied health professionals in providing harm reduction-based care in their practice.


Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants should be able to:

  • Develop a harm reduction community of practice that is supportive through learning and mentorship.
  • Understand the importance of collaboration with people with lived and living experience and learning to practice humility to destigmatize care.
  • Learn about local resources and how to access them
  • Learn what evidence currently exists in harm reduction
  • Explore the existing barriers and areas of advocacy

AGENDA

8:15am – 9:00am | Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00am – 9:15am | Opening Remarks

9:15am – 10:15am | Harm Reduction 101

Learning Objectives:

      • Define harm reduction
      • Understand the basic principles of harm reduction
      • Understand the importance of collaboration with people with lived and living experience and learning to practice humility to destigmatize care

10:15am – 10:30am | BREAK

10:30am – 11:00am | Nova Scotia Resources

Learning Objective:

      • Understand the various harm reduction supplies, community resources, and how to access them.

11:00pm – 12:00pm | Reviewing Safer Supply Core Principles and Current Evidence

Learning Objectives:

      • Understand what safer supply is and is not
      • Learn about different models of safer supply
      • Understand the current evidence of the impacts of safer supply programs on client outcomes and health systems

12:00pm – 1:00pm | LUNCH

1:00pm – 2:00pm | Addressing Barriers & Finding Opportunities for Change

Learning Objectives:

      • Identify existing barriers to implementing harm reduction care
      • Identify areas of advocacy in harm reduction care

2:00pm – 2:15pm | BREAK

2:15pm – 3:15pm | Integrating Harm Reduction into Practice

Learning Objectives:

      • Understand key harm reduction strategies
      • Identify the existing barriers and stigma around harm reduction
      • Identify the supports required to implement harm reduction-focused care into practice
      • Learn examples of integrated harm reduction

3:15pm – 4:15pm | Myth Busters

Learning Objectives:

      • Identify and debunk common myths in harm reduction care
      • Learn the importance of practicing humility, and how to  recognize and challenge personal beliefs/biases that can negatively impact patient care.

4:15pm – 4:30pm | Closing