Why Harm Reduction?

Why does the Bow Valley need a harm reduction organization?

Currently, the Banff Public Library (BPL) is the only non-medical organization in the Bow Valley region where the public can access Naloxone. Naloxone is a medication that can reverse opioid overdose. BPL also provides free Fentanyl Test Strips to the public. While this is a great resource, the library is restricted by their mandate which does not include community outreach outside of the library building.

Naloxone is available for free at some pharmacies, medical clinics, and hospitals in the Bow Valley.

Research indicates that people who use drugs (PWUD) face barriers to healthcare, including stigma and discrimination in medical settings (Cazalis et al., 2023; Fong et al., 2021; Livingston, 2020; Morrison, 2025; Muncan et al., 2020; Paquette et al., 2018; PHAC, 2020; van Boekel, 2013). 

People who are multiply marginalized (2SLGBTQ+, unhoused, newcomer to Canada, not an English speaker, person with a disability) may face additional barriers to medical and healthcare settings. 

Our team contacted every clinic and pharmacy that we found listed online as being a Naloxone distributor. We located barriers related to reception workers at medical clinics lacking information about Naloxone when asked how someone can access it. Some locations required people to have an Alberta healthcare card. If a person is already hesitant to reach out due to stigma, encountering other barriers may discourage them from continuing to attempt to access a Naloxone kit and training on how to use it.

We heard from the Banff Public Library that they frequently get requests for mobile Naloxone training. That is, Naloxone training that takes place in a different community setting outside of the library such as workplaces, hotels, restaurants, or other organizations. We are hoping to fill that demand with our future goal of bringing Naloxone training into the community where people gather, rather than individuals having to seek it out.

Why safer substance use supplies? 

Providing people who use drugs (PWUD) with clean supplies to use drugs with can decrease the spread of communicable illness, including Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). HCV is a blood-borne illness that impacts liver health. It can be passed through contact with blood of a person who has HCV. Research shows that HCV can by passed through shared snorting equipment (for more see CATIE links below or our Drug Safety Info page). 

Using a new, clean, single use straw or spoon for snorting drugs every time can reduce your chances of contracting or passing HCV and reduce exposure to other germs that live in the nose!

Valley Harm Reduction encourages everyone to regularly get tested for HCV, HIV, and other sexually-transmitted illnesses. If you don't have a primary care provider and you want to get tested for sexually transmitted and blood-borne illnesses (STBBIs) but don't know where to go, you can email us at valleyharmredux@proton.me and we can share information about local walk-in clinics.

References

CATIE. (2025, January 22). Hepatitis C Basics. https://www.catie.ca/essentials/hepatitis-c-basics

CATIE. (2025b, March 24). Safer Substance use and Hepatitis C Prevention. https://www.catie.ca/hepatitis-c-an-in-depth-guide/safer-substance-use-and-hepatitis-c-prevention

Cazalis, A., Lambert, L., & Auriacombe, M. (2023). Stigmatization of People with Addiction by Health Professionals: Current Knowledge. A Scoping Review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 9, 100196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100196

Hardill, K. (2019). That Look That Makes You Not Really Want to be There: How Neoliberalism and the War on Drugs Compromise Nursing Care of People Who Use Substances. Witness: The Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse, 1(1), 13-27. https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.15

Livingston, J. D. (2020). Structural stigma in health-care contexts for people with mental health and substance use issues: A literature review. Ottawa: Mental Health Commission of Canada. 

Morrison, D. (2024, March 4). Breaking the cycle: Rethinking substance use, stigma, and social inequities in Canada. Dalhousie University. https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/news-events/news/2025/03/04/breaking_the_cycle__rethinking_substance_use__stigma__and_social_inequities_in_canada.html

Muncan, B., Walters, S. M., Ezell, J., & Ompad, D. C. (2020). “They look at us like junkies”: Influences of drug use stigma on the healthcare engagement of people who inject drugs in New York City. Harm Reduction Journal, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00399-8

Paquette, C. E., Syvertsen, J. L., & Pollini, R. A. (2018). Stigma at Every Turn: Health Services Experiences Among People who Inject Drugs. International Journal of Drug Policy, 57, 104–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.04.004

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). (2020). A Primer to Reduce Substance Use Stigma in the Canadian Health System. ISBN: 978-0-660-33507-0, https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/healthy-living/primer-reduce-substance-use-stigma-health-system/stigma-primer-eng.pdf

van Boekel, L. C., Brouwers, E. P. M., van Weeghel, J., & Garretsen, H. F. L. (2013). Stigma among health professionals towards patients with substance use disorders and its consequences for healthcare delivery: Systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 131(1–2), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.02.018