Addictions Medicine in the ED
with Jean-Paul Michael, Dr. Dan Werb and Dr. Alexander Caudarella
Jean-Paul shares his personal background, including his experience running a greeting card company and his struggle with addiction. He emphasizes the importance of understanding both the patient's and staff's perspectives in medical care. He stresses the need for improved understanding and communication between patients and healthcare providers. Dr. Dan Werb discusses a pilot drug checking project and its impact on drug overdoses and service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic. He acknowledges the overdose crisis in Canada, its disproportionate impact on racialized communities and survivors of colonization and stresses the need for comprehensive drug policies. The talk also addresses access to harm reduction services and the pandemic's impact on service utilization and overdose. Ongoing initiatives, such as the Toronto Opioid Action Network and expansion of the Rapid Access Clinic, are mentioned, as well as the upcoming proposal for decriminalizing drug possession in Toronto. Progress on establishing a supervised consumption site at St. Michael's Hospital and the cautious approach to prescribing alternatives to illicit drugs are touched upon. The challenges of communication and the significance of supporting and engaging patients during recovery are discussed, with repetitive and empathetic communication suggested as effective strategies.
About Jean-Paul Michael
Jean-Paul Michael has spent most of his adult life in the greeting card industry. He co-founded Northern Cards when he was 18 years old. Northern Cards ultimately grew to be Canada’s largest greeting card company. In 2008, that career was sidelined as a result of an addiction to IV drugs. That addiction had devastating consequences on his life. He finally came to terms with that addiction in 2016. It was at that time, his career path took a very sharp turn. Jean-Paul went from publishing to working in an inner-city hospital. He joined the Addiction Team at St. Michael’s Hospital as a Peer Specialist. In the last 5 years, he has been fortunate enough to be able to share his recovery story with patients and colleagues alike, as well as countless organizations in both the recovery and medical community.”
About Dr. Dan Werb
Dan Werb, PhD, is an epidemiologist and the Director of the Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation at St. Michael's Hospital. Dan is also an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and at the Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation at the University of Toronto.
About Dr. Alexander Caudarella
Alexander Caudarella is a family physician and substance use physician who is medical director of substance use services at St. Michael’s Hospital and for Inner City Health Associates. He has worked across Canada in the substance use field and currently sits on the government of Ontario’s Substance use COVID-19 recovery group and TPH’s decriminalization working group.