Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

Work from CISUR researchers is one of JSAD's top downloaded 2024 publications!

Evaluation of decriminalizing small amounts of illicit drugs in Victoria, BC: A seasonally adjusted interrupted time-series analysis of police data In 2023, British Columbia (BC), Canada implemented a three-year pilot policy to decriminalize personal possession of a cumulative total of 2.5 g or le…

Read the @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Drug charges by VicPD were already in sharp decline before decriminalization: study Researchers analyzed Victoria police data on charges for trafficking, possession and drug seizures from January 2020 to December 2023.

“The largest reductions we saw in drug-related offences in Victoria happened in 2020 and 2021, before decriminalization was being openly discussed by the provincial government as a policy,” said Alexander Kuzma-Hunt, the paper’s lead author.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/d...

Conference Program | Issues of Substance Conference 2025 The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s Issues of Substance conference brings together diverse partners to share experiences with substance use, new research, best practices, emerging trends and issues, treatment and prevention initiatives, and other innovations in the field that affect the health and safety of people living in Canada.

This afternoon’s presentations at CCSA’s Issues of Substance will cover alcohol labels, substance use health in Northern communities, and enhancing care for youth.

Here’s today’s schedule: https://ow.ly/Fzjs50XrYxB

#CCSAConference

Island Health region has more alcohol, tobacco and cannabis users than B.C. average: Report A higher proportion of Island Health residents use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis regularly than the B.C. average, according to a new report by the health authority.

A higher proportion of Island Health residents use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis regularly than the B.C. average, according to a new report by the health authority.

CISUR Scientist Jaime Arredondo will be moderating this session on November 26.

Congrats to Andrea and all the other grads convocating today!

YouTube video by CISUR Scott Hadland: Addressing North America’s Adolescent Overdose Crisis

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it to @drscotthadland.bsky.social's talk on adolescent overdose in North America on November 4.
For those who wouldn't make it, you can view a recording on our YouTube page: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR_8...

Court finds DULF guilty for compassion club "heralded as success" Convictions are on hold as the compassion club founders prepare for a Charter challenge to begin on November 24.

📣 DULF found guilty for life-saving compassion club 📣

But WAIT! Not so fast…
drugdatadecoded.ca/court-finds-...

Alcohol Still Leading Cause of Substance-related Hospitalizations in Canada, With Cannabis now a ‘Concerning’ Second Hospital data for substance use visits now counts CHS, a growing weed-related illness

Alcohol still leading cause of substance-related hospitalizations in Canada, with cannabis now a ‘concerning’ second

Hospital data for substance use visits now counts CHS, a growing weed-related illness

pressprogress.ca/alcohol-stil...

Potent synthetic opioid in counterfeit pills across Greater Victoria Nitazene, estimated to be between 5 and 8 times stronger than fentanyl, has begun appearing in counterfeit prescription pills across the city

martlet.ca/potent-synth...

"Government intervention in medical decision-making has limited access to pharmaceutical-grade opioid tablets, [so] 'It’s not surprising that people are going to seek those tablets elsewhere.'"

📢 Free Talk On Campus Today 📢
Dr. Hadland will review the landscape of substance use and overdose among adolescents and young adults, highlighting key epidemiologic trends and the unique risks youth face. Presented by @uviccisur.bsky.social

Talk is free and everyone is welcome. Details and registration here: events.uvic.ca/cisur/event/...

Youth need a tailored message to prevent illicit drug overdoses, says Harvard prof “Many young people don’t perceive themselves as ‘people who use opioids,’ so the usual risk messages don’t land,” says Dr. Scott Hadland.

“Also, many young people don’t perceive themselves as ‘people who use opioids,’ so the usual risk messages don’t land." @drscotthadland.bsky.social talks youth overdose prevention in today's @timescolonist.bsky.social www.timescolonist.com/local-news/y...
Catch his talk today (Nov 4), 1:30 at #UVic.

Today, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a landmark ruling affirming that the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act must be interpreted to fulfill its life-saving purpose.

Read the press release: drugpolicy.ca/supreme-cour...

@aidq.bsky.social @hrna.bsky.social

As part of his testimony, CISUR's Dr. Tim Naimi held up a can of peas to the camera, explaining how this can had more information on it than an alcohol container does.

Dr Tim Naimi holds up a can of peas to the camera in this screenshot of his senate committee testimony.

Researchers at CISUR joined witnesses from @ccsacanada.bsky.social, WHO Europe, @alcoholireland.ie, @cancersociety.bsky.social and CAUDS to testify at the SOCI Senate Committee in support of Bill S-202, which calls for warning labels on alcoholic beverages. senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/harmony/en/p...

A beige poster with purple lettering, with an illustration of two people with their arms around each other. The poster reads: "Addressing North America's Adolescent Overdose Crisis, with Scott Hadland, MD, MPH, MS. Tuesday, November 4, 1:30-3pm, Snequ House, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road. Free talk, everyone welcome. Learn more: cisur.ca or scan the QR code. Presented by the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.

🎤Free talk🎤 Scott Hadland: Addressing North America’s Adolescent Overdose Crisis.
1:30PM PT Tues, Nov 4, Snequ House Conference Centre, #uvic
Info and registration: events.uvic.ca/cisur/event/...

Inside the alcohol industry’s global campaign to delay Ireland’s world-first health labels New documents reveal an organised effort by alcohol giants to pressure the Irish government into delaying landmark cancer warnings.

"Inside the alcohol industry’s global campaign to delay Ireland’s world-first health labels - New documents reveal an organised effort by alcohol giants to pressure the Irish government into delaying landmark cancer warnings." www.thejournal.ie/alcohol-lobb...

Senate debates bill to add warning labels to alcohol packaging OTTAWA — Sen. Patrick Brazeau is trying a second time to pass legislation that would add cancer warning labels to alcohol packaging. The Senate is studying Bill S-202, a revival of legislation Brazeau...

"The proposed bill also would require clear labels stating what constitutes a standard drink, the number of drinks per container, and the number of drinks that Health Canada considers a health risk." www.timescolonist.com/national-new...

Development of a high-resolution paper-spray mass spectrometry method using street drugs for the early detection of emerging drugs in the unregulated supply
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Open access from Dennis K. Hore, Chris Gill et al
@uvic.ca @uviccisur.bsky.social @viuniversity.bsky.social

Development of a high-resolution paper-spray mass spectrometry method using street drugs for the early detection of emerging drugs in the unregulated supply Adulteration of the unregulated opioid supply has contributed to increasing numbers of overdose deaths in North America. Harm-reduction drug checking has emerged as a strategy to address increasing ad...

Read about paper-spray mass spectrometry in this recent paper led by PhD candidate Allie Miskuli. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

The story also discusses paper-spray mass spectrometry, a new method for detecting small amounts of substances in samples. The machine at substance was co-developed by @viuniversity.bsky.social and @uvic.ca researchers.

Potent new drug turning up in counterfeit pills in Greater Victoria Drug-checking service warns the synthetic opioid nitazene is showing up in counterfeit pills sold as oxycodone, percocet and hydromorphone.

“The biggest worry is that they are quite potent molecules in comparison to fentanyl, which is a strong opioid as well...And detecting them can be challenging.”
Substance's Derek Robinson talking about nitazenes in the @timescolonist.bsky.social this week.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...

STRIDE - University of Victoria STRIDE &amp;#8211; Student Training for Research and Interdisciplinary Development and E</...

📣 Reminder about this unique opportunity for @uvic.ca
grad. students!

Apply for STRIDE — our 10-month mentorship program to develop your research skills & become a leader in your field.

📅 Deadline: Wed. Oct 15, 4PM PT

👉 Apply here: tinyurl.com/bdhpakwe

"Liver harm caused by alcohol is a public health problem. Collectively, we need to take better care of our livers by taking steps to reduce alcohol consumption in the population."
CISUR's Tim Naimi in @ca.theconversation.com #alcoholpolicy #alcoholresearch

Huge thanks to Emma Thompson for leading us on this paper with Jeff Collin in @jsadjournal.bsky.social on
how the alcohol industry frames conflicts of interest and partnership in WHO consultations. Timely considering the #UNHLM #UNGA @uoe-sps.bsky.social @lhgp.bsky.social @acords.bsky.social

The history of how an unassuming plant became the root of B.C.’s drug crisis Black Press Media delves how the opium poppy sprouted into today’s deadly opioid crisis

"When you have an illicit market that is highly criminalized, one sample might be totally fine, but then the next sample can be three times stronger.” -Substance Drug Checking's Katy Booth in @victorianews.bsky.social www.vicnews.com/news/the-his...

Unsanctioned overdose prevention sites open again in Victoria, Nanaimo Doctors for Safer Drug Policy installed two overdose prevention sites near Royal Jubilee Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital over the weekend.

Doctors for Safer Drug Policy installed two overdose prevention sites near Royal Jubilee Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital over the weekend.

“We’ve seen this playbook before with the tobacco industry trying to discredit science around smoking’s harms." -CISUR's Tim Stockwell