Lunch & learn:

Responding to the Impact of Drug Use in Our Community

In this two-part workshop, you will learn:

• Crystal Meth: history, effects, symptoms, harms
• Harm reduction 101: six principles
• Safe Needle Disposal resources
• De-escalation techniques - know whether and how to engage tenants/visitors who might be using substances

Part I (May 20, WED): during this session, Joseph and Bryce will take you on a tour of the world of Crystal Meth: its history, effects, consumption behaviour, why people use them, and the harms caused. We will clarify some of the common misconceptions surrounding drug use. Then, we will introduce various harm reduction initiatives and resources available for landlords. You will receive a Fact Sheet on Crystal Meth for family and friends, developed by Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, and six principles of harm reduction.

Part II (May 26, TUE): during this session, Joseph and Bryce will provide trainings on Safe Needle Disposal (Street Connections) and Psychedelic Crisis Intervention in practice. We will present signs of hostility, strategies to communicate to people who use substances and how to respond to challenging situations (de-escalation skills). You will receive corresponding reference handouts developed by resources teams from WRHA.

Contact Si (cee) at membership@mnpha.com or call 204-997-4022 for further information.

Speakers' bio: Joseph Keilty and Bryce Koch are both public health nurses with the Department of Health Sexuality and Harm Reduction/Street Connections at WRHA. They are two of the six nurses going into the Street Connections van on a daily basis. Both Joe and Bryce graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 2017. In 2016, while still in school, they co-founded a harm reduction program called Project Safe Audience.