The Youth Harm Reduction team is pleased to announce the launch of Youth Harm Reduction 101. The course is now available for our external partners on the Interior Health website (and also as an iLearn for IH staff 4339). This course covers essential information on integrating harm reduction principles, approaches and services into your practice when working with youth.
Learners who complete the course will:
- Understand what harm reduction is and why its an important part of the continuum of care when to working with youth.
- Become familiar with youth substance trends and influences.
- Know what harm reduction services are available for youth in B.C.
- Understand how harm reduction work with youth fits with key legislation.
The complete course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. It is divided into four-sessions.
Session 1: Youth and Substance Use (10 mins)- This section covers important core topics like why youth use substances, the spectrum of substance use, as well as data and trends in youth substance use.
Session 2: Harm Reduction and Stigma (10 mins) – This section explores what harm reduction is and how stigma creates barriers to wellness. Practical tips are provided to help reduce stigma.
Session 3: Harm Reduction Services (60 mins)– This session provides information on harm reduction services available for youth in B.C. including safer sex and safer substance use supplies, naloxone programs, overdose prevention sites and drug checking. Includes detailed videos on the various supplies and how they are used.
Session 4: Legislation and Polices (10mins) – This section covers key legislation and policies such as consent and Duty to Report within the context of providing harm reduction services to youth. Practice recommendations are provided. *If your service doesn’t typically work with youth and you’re not sure if you can this session is also for you!
DISCLAIMER: This Harm Reduction 101 course is an Interior Health document and not from Island Health. It is not intended for specific use by Island Health residents. We follow the guidelines set out by the Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) as our source of truth for current first aid and process guidelines. There is valuable info in the training but there are a few discrepancies as indicated below.
The BCCDC recommends
-focusing on breathing through all stages of the care is crucial if the person is not breathing independently.
-breathing is as important as naloxone.
-grinding your knuckles into someone’s chest is no longer encouraged.
-insert the needle into the upper arm or the front of the thigh, not the buttocks.
-disposing of sharps in a bottle is not encouraged
https://towardtheheart.com/