Reconciliation and Canada’s overdose crisis: responding to the needs of Indigenous Peoples

Commentary

Lavalley, Jennifer et al

2018

Canada

English

Yes

Yes

Canada’s drug overdose crisis disproportionately affects Indigenous Peoples differently owing to a legacy of colonialism, racism and intergenerational trauma.
Disaggregated data on Indigenous people are needed to understand more clearly how Indigenous Peoples are affected by drug overdoses.
Indigenizing harm reduction and addiction treatment must involve integrating cultural and traditional Indigenous values that align with the principles of harm reduction.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples must include ending the war on drugs to address underlying structural conditions that produce drug-related harms, including overdose.

doi.org

Overdose

Policy/Regulatory

Decriminalization/legalization

Indigenous

Equity