Kanada. Alcohol harm reduction is saving lives during COVID-19
Kanada. Alcohol harm reduction is saving lives during COVID-19
When Canada and many other countries starting locking down in March, people were advised to stay home and physically distance. But what does that look like when you don’t have a home and are dependent on alcohol? What if you lose your sources of income like panhandling or collecting bottles to earn money, the drop-in centre you frequent closes, or the local liquor store no longer accepts cash?
“COVID-19 has exposed a lot of gaps in our society, especially for people experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability, including those with severe alcohol dependence,” says Bernie Pauly, a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and Nursing professor at the University of Victoria. “While these barriers existed pre-COVID-19, loss of services during COVID 19 has resulted in an increase in alcohol-related harms.” (University of Victoria, Kanada, 06.11.2020)
https://www.uvic.ca/news/topics/2020+covid-managed-alcohol-programs+news