CAUDS Corner Spring 2023
Back by popular demand! Join us for a showing of Smashed, an award-winning mini documentary about alcohol treatment trailblazer, Dr. Jeff Harries. And learn how new treatments can reduce or eliminate cravings for alcohol.
At Landmark Cinemas Penticton, April 23, 5-6pm. Opportunity to ask questions to follow the 1/2 hour documentary. Open to the public and all are welcome!
Tickets by donation on Eventbrite. Rush tickets may be available at the door.
As a part of Alcohol Awareness Month, we hope you can join us to watch the film on the big screen. We’re just in one location this time, but you can view on the small screen here
In case you need more reasons to watch Smashed with us — check out the collection of the happy faces that came to the first showing in February!
New Resources
Read our work Incorporating Ondansetron and Baclofen in Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment published in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. There, we advocate for a more comprehensive approach to promoting available pharmacotherapies for treating AUD.
Watch a six-part mini series: A Family Physician’s Perspective on Alcohol Use Disorder. Created from a slideshow by Dr. Andrew Ashley, CAUDS Clinical Advisory Committee member and physician. First presented in Princeton, BC, these short modules contain an intro to alcohol use disorder, a brief explanation of how alcohol affects the brain and how this informs treatment options, a sample patient journey as well as a few tips for talking about alcohol use with others. View all 6 modules on our Videos page.
Learning from Voices of Experience
We are pleased to announce the formation of our People With Lived Experience Advisory Committee. We are grateful for the advice of our volunteers who have experienced alcohol use disorder or who are supportive family members. Their voice will greatly help as we create resources for people wanting to learn more about the disorder, about treatment options, about beginning a care journey and how to support others.
Welcome new Board Director, Debra Salverda!
We are thrilled to welcome Debra, who brings her enthusiasm, and a wealth of experience in the fields of health and mental health and substance use to our Board of Directors.
We also wish to extend a warm thank you to NP Patrice Gordon, who is taking more time to focus on humanitarian work abroad. We are so grateful for Patrice’s time on the Board, and for her continued work on our Clinical Advisory Committee.
Community Engagement News
We continue to develop our Community Engagement project, knowing that it takes a whole community to change culture and support new understandings about alcohol use disorder. Our pilot community, Princeton, BC, is taking action! Only four months since our initial event for community leaders, Princeton has formed an AUD working group, and has spread the word about treatment options at a volunteer fair, a school conference and is preparing to present to their town council.
Learn more about the pilot community here or, if you’re in Princeton, email Ed Staples, Princeton AUD Working Group Lead for more information.
Our aim is to build upon this pilot project to provide resources and opportunities to more communities like yours.
On Global News
Check out this news story about our work: Penticton film company documents a local doctor’s work with alcoholism
New Canadian drinking guidelines released
Recently released new Canadian guidelines on safe drinking suggest 1–2 drinks/week is low risk; 3–6 is moderate; & 7+ is high risk for several types of cancer and other diseases. Less is better.
The guide provides compelling reasons for WHY to stop drinking. Or to drink less. At the Canadian AUD Society, we’re here to shed light on the HOW. Help us spread the message that AUD is a treatable medication condition. And a full recovery is possible for just about anyone.