Pictured left to right: Vice President of Mental Health and Addictions, Dr. Randi McCabe, Co-Head of Substance Use Service, Dr. Robin Lennox, Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner, Peer Support Supervisor, Marcie McIlveen, and St. Joe's President, Mike Heenan.

HAMILTON, ON – St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton announced Tuesday it has been awarded more than $4.3 million by Health Canada to fund an innovative program designed to improve the hospital experience for patients who use drugs, a population that often faces complex health challenges and stigmatization.

The grant, which will be provided over a 48-month period, will be used to fund peer support workers who will provide ongoing support to patients in the emergency department and other parts of the hospital to people who use opioids and other substances. The peer support workers will help patients navigate care, provide them with harm reduction and safe opioid use counselling, as well as connect them with community supports they can use beyond their hospital stay.

The grant is funded by Health Canada’s substance use and addictions program, which provides support to programs across the country designed to target substance use prevention, harm reduction and treatment. The program is being launched at St. Joe’s main Charlton site in downtown Hamilton and will eventually expand to other emergency departments throughout the city.

In recent years, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton has seen a significant increase in the number of people who are coming to the emergency department or are admitted to the hospital because of drug overdoses and other complications related to substance use, such as mood or psychotic disorders. But people who use drugs often face a number of complex health challenges unrelated to substance use that require them to be in hospital.

Evidence shows that people who use drugs are more at risk for adverse health outcomes, including critical care admission, readmission and unplanned discharge against medical advice. And many of those individuals feel that they are discriminated against or face stigma in a health care setting, which can be a barrier in accessing timely, appropriate care.

This new program funded by the grant aims to bridge some of those critical gaps by ensuring people who use drugs have a connection to a peer support worker who can act as a navigator in the hospital, provide them with essentially counselling and connect them with community-based prevention and treatment resources.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton thanks the federal government for this investment in the care of our patients and broader community. St. Joe’s is home to the second largest mental health and addictions program in the province and we are committed to delivering exceptional care and innovative solutions to those affected by the ongoing substance use challenges facing our community.

Quotes:

“We recognize the tragic toll substance use is taking on families, friends and communities across Canada. Our comprehensive and compassionate approach is about reducing harms and saving lives. We are supporting community organizations that have deep roots in their communities, have the trust of their clients and have the first-hand knowledge needed to make a real difference in people's lives. We are using every tool at our disposal to end this crisis and build a safer, healthier and more caring future for all Canadians.”

The Honourable Ya'ara Saks
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

“Through the Substance Use and Addictions Program, we are proud to support St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s innovative new program that integrates people with lived experience into hospital care teams. This new program will complement existing services and will help to improve care for people who use drugs while seeking care in Hamilton area hospitals.”

Lisa Hepfner
Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain

“Bringing the incredible expertise, creativity, compassion and dedication of peer workers to our substance use service team will have a tremendous impact on the care of people who use drugs while in hospital and will undoubtedly improve our patients’ experiences and the trust they have in us as healthcare providers.”

Dr. Robin Lennox
Co-Head of Service
Substance Use Service
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

“This funding will support people who use substances to receive tailored support both while in hospital and post discharge, fostering understanding, trust and relationship building led by the people accessing the service.”

Marcie McIlveen
Peer Support Supervisor
Substance Use Service
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

For media requests, please contact:

Lauren Stasila
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
lstasila@stjoes.ca