Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航
Nov. 3, 2017
草莓污视频导航 substance abuse expert urges compassion and science-based response to growing drug problem
Jacqueline Smith, BN鈥09, PhD鈥15, assistant professor at the聽聽at the 草莓污视频导航, has devoted her life鈥檚 work to the education, prevention and early intervention research around adolescent and young adult substance abuse and its impact on the family.
In addition to her role at the nursing faculty, Smith is a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Social Work and is an associate member at both the Mathison Centre and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine.聽
For nine years, she worked at the聽聽(AARC) as a family counsellor and educator and more recently as the director of community education and research. Her current research promotes mental health and well-being for children and families. She is currently serving as vice-president of the Canadian Chapter of the International Nurses Society of Addiction, a member of the Board of Directors for the Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network, and she also sits on the advisory committee for Drug Free Kids Canada.
On Oct. 31, Calgary Police Services Chief Constable Roger Chaffin visited campus to personally present Smith with the聽, pictured above. Chaffin says he introduced this new award category in his Chief鈥檚 Awards to recognize those who 鈥済o above and beyond to help make the community safer and make a difference in people鈥檚 lives鈥 and Smith receives the inaugural honour for her work with AARC and her continued work in the community.聽All citizens honoured with a Chief鈥檚 Award are presented with the Award of Exceptional Recognition, which recognizes an outstanding act of courage or the rendering of valuable assistance to the Calgary Police Services in the preservation of law and order.
鈥淭he issues of addictions in people鈥檚 lives right now are tragic; the stories are horrific and there are negative outcomes. The leadership that Jackie has shown, I think, is the kind of work that makes a huge difference in the lives of Calgarians,鈥 says Chaffin.
In light of her recognition, we spoke with Smith about her research, the opioid crisis, legalization of marijuana, and what鈥檚 happening around campus in relation to mental health and addictions.
蚕:听What did your previous work with AARC involve and how did you collaborate with Calgary Police?
A:聽[At AARC], I would run community education workshops every other month to address issues around adolescent substance use and abuse. Some of the topics covered were marijuana and the developing adolescent brain, the opioid crisis, crystal meth, the impact on adolescents and gang violence and its connection to substance abuse. I really wanted to bring the community together because substance abuse is a community problem. Calgary Police Services were invited to participate in every event as stakeholders who are invested in community awareness, education and prevention. Between 100 to 150 people attended each of the workshops. It was a great opportunity to create community partnerships and to bring the issues to the forefront.
蚕:听Given all the debate about the minimum age limit for marijuana legalization, what鈥檚 unique to know about addictions in youth compared to adults?
A:聽The brain continues to develop until the mid-20s. Any drug that enters the system competes or makes vulnerable that brain development. Drugs and alcohol can hijack the teen brain. [Alberta] is proposing the age of 18 in its framework. As an academic and nurse scientist, I disagree. I align with the minimum age of 21 rationale because of the science behind the developing adolescent brain. I believe that this is an opportunity to open up the conversation around age of legalization for substance use.
Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航
Q:聽How successful is Alberta in responding to the cannabis legalization and opiod crisis issues right now?
A:聽Alberta Health Services (AHS) has a nurse practitioner, Amy Woroniuk, BN鈥04, who is the provincial harm reduction co-ordinator.聽Amy has played an integral role in addressing the opioid crisis. Our health-care system is standing up to what鈥檚 being proposed within the Alberta framework for marijuana legalization. AHS is suggesting a minimum age of 21 for recreational marijuana purchases 鈥 and proposes the province use future legislation as an "opportunity" to consider raising the ages to 21 for tobacco and liquor.
蚕:听You often talk about compassion when dealing with addictions and mental health. Can you elaborate?
A:聽Compassion is not a common word in conversations surrounding addiction. But it鈥檚 really needed right now especially amid our opioid crisis. Two-thirds of the deaths are happening in suburban communities. Addiction is an equal opportunity disease that can impact any family. We need to move past the stigma and look at these people as human beings who deserve compassionate health-care services. Addiction is not a crime; we have to consider the social determinants of health and social inequalities, which also make this a public health issue.
Q:聽You were recently named the Faculty of Nursing liaison to the Campus Mental Health Strategy and Wellness Centre. What will this role encompass?
A:聽As a university, we are very invested in the continuation of addiction and mental health research to continue to support our young people. Dr. Andrew Szeto, director of the 草莓污视频导航 Campus Mental Health Strategy and I are already working on a few projects together. There鈥檚 a strong connection between my research in addiction and mental health and the strategy. I look forward to interdisciplinary collaborations that support educational programs and policies to inform safe alcohol and substance use (including harm reduction strategies) for the 草莓污视频导航.
Next spring, the Faculty of Nursing is hosting a conference for academics, health-care professionals and community groups around youth addictions. Smith will present with researchers from the University of Maryland School of Public Health and University of Minnesota.
For more information about the Campus Mental Health Strategy, visit聽.聽If you think you need help,聽聽If you think someone you know needs help,聽