Community

META:PHI offers several opportunities for clinician networking, education, and training, including an annual conference, an active listserv, a monthly teleconference for nurse practitioners, and a webinar and dialogue series. Please come and learn with us!

The META:PHI 2025 Virtual Conference took place April 4–5, 2025.

Previous Conferences

META:PHI Conference 2025: April 4-5 Agenda (PDF)

Presentations

Keynote

Drug Policy in Ontario: Crises and Opportunities
Dan Werb

Session 1A

Managing Opioid WIthdrawal in the Emergency Deparatment
Tali Magboo Cahill, Justin J Koh

Session 1B

The Substance Use Health Initiative: Enhancing hospital care for youth with substance use
Trisha Tulloch, Linda Nguyen, Lauren Morris, Karen Leslie

b) The Impact of Decriminalization of Personal Possession of Illegal Drugs on Drug Poisonings in British Columbia, Canada (2015-2023)
Sameer Imtiaz

Session 3A

Management of Acute and Subacute Alcohol Withdrawal in RAAM Clinic Settings (PDF)
Meldon Kahan

Session 3B: Care Snapshots

a)BIRCH: Developing a Virtual Hub for Substance Use Treatment Programming within First Nations Communities (PDF)
Kate Turner

b) Nurse Prescribing of Buprenorphine (PDF)
Katie Dunham

Session 4A

Engaging in Substance Use Healthcare During Pregnancy: If Rapport is a Two-Way Street, Can Clinicians and Patients Meet in the Middle of the Road Without Getting Run Over? (PDF)
Adam Newman, Charlotte Munro

Session 4C

Pearls and Pitfalls of Virtual RAAM Care: Practical Tips from Real-World Stories (PDF)
Jason Perfect, Sydney DeGuzman, Katie Dunham

Session 5A

New Guidelines for Methadone Prescribing (PDF)
Jennifer Wyman, Andrew McLeod

Session 5B

Engaging Your Hospital in Substance Use Health Care: Beyond the Addictions Medicine Consult Service (PDF)
Kim Corace, Tali Magboo Cahill

Session 5C

Slow-Release Oral Morphine as Opioid Agonist Therapy in the Fentanyl Era: A Qualitative Study of Client Experiences
Pamela Leece, Ashley Smoke

Session 6A

Opioid Use Disorder in the Inpatient Setting: 5 Common Conundrums (PDF)
Sarah Whynot, Jennifer Ng

Session 6B

Substance Use and Brain Injury: What You May Be Missing and What to Do About It (PDF)
Wiplove Lamba, Carolyn Lemsky

Session 6C

Evaluation of the Impact of Peer Support in the Substance Use Service at Women’s College Hospital
Pamela Leece, Walker Akhlaghi, Susan Dobson

Thank you to the conference planning committee for their input and expertise in the planning of this event:

Jennifer Wyman (Chair)
Jennifer Brasch
Lisa Bromley
Katie Dunham
Darren Greer
Robin Griller
Pia Heikkinen
Robyn Hynes
Mae Katt
Adam McInnis
JP Michael
Ainko Ramanathan

META:PHI Conference 2023: September 22-23 Agenda (PDF)

Presentations

Welcome

Jennifer Wyman, Conference Chair
Carol Hopkins, Executive Director, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
Ann Marie Corrado, Acting Network Director, META:PHI
Meldon Kahan, Medical Director, META:PHI

Keynote

Drug Policy, Race and the Criminal Justice System: Exploring Important Intersections and Possibilities for the Future
Akwasi Owusu-Bempah

Session 1A

New Guidelines for the Use of Slow-Release Oral Morphine as Opioid Agonist Therapy (PDF)
Jason Rodgers, Ashley Smoke, Suzanne Turner

Session 1B

Increasing Access to Substance Use Health Care and Outcomes Through Digital Health Solutions (PDF)
Kim Corace, Melanie Willows

Snapshot Session 1: Partnerships in Care

a) The West Parry Sound Health Centre Mental Health Hub: An Integrated Care Approach to Addressing Substance Use in the Parry Sound Region (PDF)
Connie Foster, Irene Boldt

b) The Healing Journey: Qualitative Study on Recovery from Opioid Use in a Remote Community (PDF)
Maria Suganaqueb, Ruben Hummelen

c) Environmental Scan of Urban RAAM Clinics Servicing Indigenous People (PDF)
Subo Awan, Carol Hopkins

Workshop 1

META:PHI’s Alcohol Use Disorder Emergency Department Toolkit (PDF)
Bjug Borgundvaag, Katie Dunham, Hasan Sheikh, Kelly Shillington

Workshop 2

Managing Psychosis in Addictions Clinics: Substance-Induced and Beyond (PDF)
Tanya Hauck, Tim Guimond

Session 2A

Stimulants and Approaches to the Management of Stimulant Use (PDF)
Tim Guimond, Tanya Hauck

Snapshot Session 2: Care in Different Settings

a) Care Connections in the Emergency Department (PDF)
Laura Hill, Dan Brunet

b) Caring for Populations with Complex Health and Social Needs (PDF)
Monica Forrester, Kavita Maharaj

c) Elective Admission for Management of Alcohol Withdrawal in a Short-Stay Medicine Unit in Toronto: Opportunities and Outcomes (PDF)
Marc Dagher, Mariangela Castro Arteaga

Session 3A

Benzodiazepines and Benzodiazepine Use Disorder (PDF)
Sumeet Dama

Session 3B

Compassionate and Responsive Care for People who Use Alcohol and Opioids: Integrated Care Pathways in the ED (PDF)
Chris Cull, Hasan Sheikh

Session 3C

The Grey Bruce Supportive Outreach Services (SOS): Mitigating and Aiding Vulnerable Populations (PDF)
Robyn Nocilla, Heather Prescott, Teresa Tibbo

Session 4A

Scene First (PDF)
Louisa Marion-Bellemare, Seamus Murphy, Julie Samson

Session 4B

Expanding Access to Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Using Telemedicine (PDF)
Adam McInnis, Matthew Sloan

Session 4C

A Summary of Evidence to Optimize the Use of Extended-Release Buprenorphine in Opioid Use Disorder (PDF)
Ainko Ramanathan

Snapshot Session 3: Person-Centered Care

a) Increasing Accessibility to RAAM Services (PDF)
Kristin Kerr, Katie Dunham

b) Not Sending People to Jail for Having an Addiction: A Review of New Legislative Initiatives to Address Addiction (PDF)
Laurence Batmazian

Session 5A

Cannabis and Approaches to the Management of Cannabis Use Disorder
Bernard Le Foll, Victor Tang, Leanne Trick

Session 5B

Tailoring Virtual Substance Use Care to the Needs of Equity-Deserving Populations: Findings from a Qualitative Participatory Research Study (PDF)
Lise Dassieu, Jillian Harnum, Chealsea De Moor

Snapshot Session 4: ED and Hospital Care

a) Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing ED-initiated Buprenorphine (PDF)
Ceire Storey

b) Chart Review: Referral to Addiction Medicine in Patients with Substance Use Disorder (PDF)
Zayya Zendo, Robert McKay

c) Helping the Helpers with Substance Use Disorders
Trish Uniac

Thank you to the conference planning committee for their input and expertise in the planning of this event:

Jennifer Wyman (Chair)
Rachel Alexander
Sara Bown
Leslie Buckley
Janelle Hannon
Christina Henry
Leslie Molnar
Lori Regenstreif
Michael Roach
Maria Zhang

Thank you also to Lisa Bromley, Ann Marie Corrado, Robin Griller, and Anita Srivastava for acting as moderators, and to all speakers and attendees for their participation.

META:PHI Conference 2022: September 23-24 (PDF)

Presentations

Welcome (PDF)
Jennifer Wyman, Conference Chair
Meldon Kahan, Medical Director, META:PHI
Ann Marie Corrado, Acting Network Director, META:PHI

Keynote
Re-positioning Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) within the context of criminalization (PDF)
David Frank, Research Scientist, New York University

Session 1B

Family caregivers: Problem or panacea? (PDF)
Oona St-Amant, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, TMU
Brynlea Barbeau, Addiction Medicine Physician, Sault Area Hospital
Louise White, Co-Founder, FAR

Session 1C

Toronto’s drug checking service: Clinical and community impacts of findings from the city’s unregulated drug supply (PDF)
Hayley Thompson, Project Manager, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, CDPE
Pat Fifield, OPSW, Parkdale Queen West CHC

Session 2A

Pharmacological management of benzodiazepine dependence (PDF)
Josée Lynch, Addiction Psychiatrist, University Health Network

Session 2b

Mashed versus meshed: Integrating psychosocial care into your RAAM (PDF)
Jared Bonis, Staff NP, Health Sciences North
Alyssa Scichilone, RSW, Outpatient Addictions, Sudbury Mental Health and Addictions Centre
Michael Roach, Regional Lead, Addictions Services, Mental Health and Addictions Programs, Health Sciences North

Session 2C

Implementing contingency management in RAAM: A quality improvement project
Tanya Hauck, Addiction Psychiatrist, CAMH (PDF)
Himmat Dhillon, M2, Midwestern University Medicine
Basant Dhillon, Health Sciences, McMaster University
Stephanie Rochon, RAAM Supervisor, Brant Community Health Care Systems

Session 3A

Methadone, opioid overdose, and supervised consumption site data
Tali Cahill, Professional Practice Consultant, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Session 3B

Buprenorphine macrodosing in the ER and early depot buprenorphine initiation in the hospital setting (PDF)
Louisa Marion-Bellemare, Assistant Professor, Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Julie Samson, Assistant Professor, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Session 3C

Developing and implementing a mobile addictions medicine service for Indigenous people in the GTA (PDF)
Harvey Manning, Director, Programs and Services, Anishnawbe Health Toronto
Chetan Mehta, RAAM Physician, Anishnawbe Health Toronto
Subo Awan, Interim Manager, Anishnawbe Health Toronto

Session 4A

Alcohol withdrawal: A primer for RAAM clinicians (PDF)
Katie Dunham, Nurse Educator, META:PHI
Meldon Kahan, Medical Director, META:PHI

Session 4B

Transitions of care in addiction treatment (PDF)
Narges Beyraghi, Addiction Psychiatrist, CAMH
Tianna Costa, Clinical Pharmacist, CAMH
Amy Yang, Occupational Therapist, CAMH

Session 4C

A new framework for methadone carries: A person-centered evidence-based approach to take-home dosing (PDF)
Vincent Lam, Medical Director, Coderix Medical Clinic
Suzanne Latreille, Peer Educator, City of Ottawa
Andrew McLeod, Community Consultant
Charlotte Munro, Child and Youth Worker
Jennifer Wyman, Medical Director, SUS, Women’s College Hospital
Maria Zhang, Pharmacist, CAMH

Workshop slides

Workshop 1A

Withdrawal workshop: Manual review and case presentations (PDF)

Katie Dunham, Nurse Educator, META:PHI
Laura Jones, NP, St. Leonard’s Withdrawal Management
Mark Weiss, Medical Director, Bellwood Health Services

Workshop 1B

Onboarding peers as team members in addictions care settings (PDF)

Ethan Hopkins, Peer Systems Navigator, Support House
Alyssa Gremmen, Peer Integration and Systems Lead, Support House
Richard Adair, Manager, Peer Services, Peer Support House

Workshop 1C

A taste of Motivational Interviewing (PDF)

Wiplove Lamba, Physician Lead, SUS, Sinai Health Systems
Omar Ghaffar, Physician Lead, Mental Health, Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital
Hedieh Ghanbari, Hospital Medicine Director, Sinai Health Systems
Mary Zheng, CNS, Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital
Anita Kang, PGY 5 (psychiatry), University of Toronto

Workshop 2A

Mandatory reporting to the Ministry of Transportation: Considerations and review of the legislation (PDF)

Tanya Hauck, Addictions Psychiatrist, CAMH
Omar Ha-Redeye, Lawyer, Fleet Street Law

Workshop 2B

Treatment of hepatitis C in addiction settings (PDF)

Jordan Feld, Interim Director, Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network
Hemant Shah, Staff Hepatologist, University Health Network

Workshop 2C

Collaborative approaches to care with adolescents who use substances (PDF)

Jessica Empringham, PGY-3 (Paediatrics), SickKids
Karen Leslie, Staff Paediatrician, SickKids
Cathy Maser, NP, SickKids

Thank you to our conference planning committee for their input and expertise in the planning of this event:

Jennifer Wyman (Chair) MD CCFP FCFP DABAM MPH
Rachel Alexander BAH
Leslie Buckley MD MPH FRCPC
Christina Henry RN BScN BA
Sean LeBlanc CAPUD
Leslie Molnar MSW RSW
Lori Regenstreif MSc MD CCFP(AM) MScCH(AMH) FCFP
Josh RichardsonRP RPN Psych Cert BAH
Anita Srivastava MD MSc CCFP
Maria Zhang BScPhm, PharmD

META:PHI Conference 2021: September 24-25 (PDF)

Presentations

Welcome (PDF)
Kate Hardy, Network Director, META:PHI
Meldon Kahan, Medical Director, META:PHI

Plenary
Supporting First Nations right to health: What is the critical path? (PDF)
Dr. Carol Hopkins OC, Chief Executive Officer, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation

Session 2A

Desperate times call for desperate measures: Breaking the barrier for treatment of OUD using macrodosing & depot buprenorphine (PDF)
Louisa Marion-Bellemare MD CCFP
Julie Samson MD CCFP (EM)

Timmins District Hospital Opioid Withdrawal Protocol (PDF)

Timmins District Hospital Admission Order Set (PDF)

Session 3A

Opioid agonist treatment and the opioid crisis (PDF)
Meldon Kahan MD CCFP FRCPC

Session 4A

Re-imagining philosophies of care: Hiring, training, and mentorship of nurses in CTS (PDF)
Erin Telegdi RN, South Riverdale CHC
Lara Small RN, South Riverdale CHC
Jessica Arteaga RN, South Riverdale CHC
Sushi Rosborough, Overdose Response Worker, South Riverdale CHC

Session 4B

STOPS – A journey of grassroots overdose prevention from Northeastern Ontario (PDF)
Karla Ghartey, STOPS Program
Crystal Kimewon, STOPS Program
Marie Pollock, STOPS Program

Session 5A

Medically supported alcohol withdrawal management: Outpatient and detox perspectives (PDF)
David Peterson NP-PHC MSc BNSc BPHE BSc
Shawn Dookie NP-PHC RN (EC) BSc MPH

Session 5B

Addressing stigma through clinical judgment: Strategies for working with families (PDF)
Oona St-Amant RN PhD
Angie Hamilton, Executive Director, Families for Addiction Recovery
Brynlea Barbeau MD

Session 6A

Downtown east community-led trauma informed overdose response curriculum (PDF)
Seff Pinch, South Riverdale CHC
Sunny Sultan, South Riverdale CHC

Session 7A

5 years of treating perinatal substance use disorder at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (PDF)
Adam Newman MD FCFP (AM) CCSAM

Session 7B

From grief to advocacy: Family journeys to demanding safe supply, decriminalization and harm reduction (PDF)
Christine Wingate, Ontario Director, Moms Stop the Harm
Missy McLean, Ontario Director, Moms Stop the Harm

Session 8A

Monthly depot buprenorphine XL: The first 100 patients (London RAAM Clinic) (PDF)
Ken Lee MD MCFP (AM)

Session 8B

A rural approach to the opioid crisis
Micayla Ahearn MD
Victoria Burke, ROCK Outreach Worker
Sean Lee-Popham RN, Harm Reduction Lead, Bancroft Community FHT
Ellen Buck-McFadyen PhD, Trent University School of Nursing

Session 9A

Drug decriminalization (PDF)
Matthew Bonn, Program Manager, CAPUD
Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Co-Executive Director, HIV Legal Network

Session 9B

The structure, growth, and development of an addiction rural service: An inter-professional multi-regional community-wide approach (PDF)
Connie Foster NP-PHC MSc
Katie Hogue NP-PHC

Session 9C

Inpatient naloxone kit distribution: Our first steps into hospital-based harm reduction initiatives (PDF)
Michael Roach, NE Ontario Regional Lead, RAAM and AMCT
Paola Nikodem, Regional Education and Quality Lead for Addictions Services, Health Sciences North

Workshop slides

Workshop 1

Digging in to buprenorphine: Initiating and managing buprenorphine in ambulatory, ED, and inpatient settings (PDF)

Katie Dunham BSc Hons BScN MN NP-PHC
Melissa Holowaty PhD MD CCFP (AM)
Robyn Nocilla BScN MSc NP-PHC
Mike Postic MSc NP-Adult
Elizabeth Shouldice MD MPH CCFP (EM) FCFP
Jennifer Wyman MD CCFP FCFP DABAM MPH

Workshop 4

Methadone treatment for people who use fentanyl: Using case discussions to explore the META:PHI guidelines (PDF)

Lisa Bromley MD CCFP (AM) FCFP
Robin Lennox MD CCFP
Meredith MacKenzie MD BSc CCFP (AM) FCFP
Andrew McLeod
Lori Regenstreif MD CCFP (AM) FCFP MScCH (AMH) CISAM
Anita Srivastava MD MSc CCFP

Thank you to our conference planning committee for their input and expertise in the planning of this event:

Rachel Alexander BAH
Leslie Buckley MD MPH FRCPC
Katie Dunham BSc Hons, BScN, MN, NP-PHC
Kate Hardy MSW RSW
Christina Henry RN BScN BA
Louisa Marion-Bellemare MD CCFP (EM)
Josh Richardson RP RPN Psych Cert BAH
Michael Roach RN MN
Hasan Sheikh MD CCFP (EM) MPA
Jennifer Wyman MD CCFP FCFP DABAM MPH
Maria Zhang BScPhm, PharmD

META:PHI Conference 2020: September 25 (PDF)

Presentations

Session 1A

Methadone treatment in the fentanyl era: New consensus guidelines
Meldon Kahan, MD CCFP FRCPC
Lori Regenstreif, MD CCFP (AM) FCFP MScCH (AMH) CISAM

Session 1B

Resources and strategies to support vulnerable and marginalized patients in RAAM clinics
Christina Henry, RN BA BScN

Session 1C

Caring for health professionals with SUD
Adam Newman, MD FCFP (AM) CCSAM
Lisa Lefebvre, MDCM MPH CCFP (AM) DABAM FASAM CCSAM CMRO
Adam Newman, MD MCFP (AM)

Session 2A

Co-prescribing for concurrent disorders
Valerie Primeau, MD FRCPC

Session 2B

RAAM innovations
(1) Lakeridge opioid navigator
Lindsay Reynolds, MEd RP
(2) The Alex RAAM
Jennifer Eyford, MSc BSc BN RN

Session 2C

Harm reduction for hospitalized patients and people who inject drugs
Tali Cahill, BScN RN

https://youtu.be

Panel

Innovations in care for people with SUDs during COVID: What can we learn going forward?
Moderator: Vincent Lam, MD CCFP (AM) ASAM CSAM
(1) Working with managed alcohol/managed stimulant programs during COVID
Michelle Klaiman MD FRCPC DABAM
(2) Virtual care
Michael Roach, Regional Lead, Addictions Services, Mental Health and Addictions Programs, Health Sciences North
(3) COVID-OAT changes
Tara Gomes PhD MHSc

Session 3A

Long-acting buprenorphine options
Katie Dunham BSc BScN MN NP-PHC
Ken Lee MD MCFP (AM)

Session 3B

The roles of peer support and lived experience in addiction medicine
Josh Richardson RP RPN Psych Cert BA Hons
Charles Coke, Peer Support Advocate

Session 3C

MI and brief interventions in the addictions setting
Julie Henderson MD FRCPC DABAM
Leslie Molnar MSW RSW

Session 4A

Case discussions: Managing non-opioid substance use issues
Jennifer Wyman MD CCFP FCFP DABAM MPH

Session 4B

Family-centred care
Angie Hamilton LLB BCL
Louise Lemieux White BScN RN

Session 4C

Contingency management
Melissa Holowaty PhD MD CCFP (AM)

Thank you to our conference planning committee for their input and expertise in the planning of this event:

Leslie Buckley MD MPH FRCPC
Katie Dunham BSc Hons, BScN, MN, NP-PHC
Kate Hardy MSW RSW
Christina Henry RN BScN BA
Elizabeth Shouldice MD CCFP(EM) FCFP MPH
Jennifer Wyman MD CCFP FCFP DABAM MPH
Maria Zhang BScPhrm, PhmD

META:PHI Conference 2019: September 20 (PDF)

Slides

Provincial overview and META:PHI supports (PDF) – Kate Hardy (META:PHI), Sarah Clarke (META:PHI)
Clinical best practices in addiction medicine (PDF) – Meldon Kahan MD CCFP FRCPC
Knowledge dissemination of addiction skills across clinical settings (PDF) – Ken Lee MD MCFP(AM), Lori Regenstreif MD CCFP(AM) FCFP MScCH(AMH) CISAM, Jennifer Wyman MD CCFP FCFP DABAM MPH
Engaging community partners: Pilot with the Ontario Provincial Police (PDF) – John Gorchinsky (OPP)
Engaging community partners: Collaborating with CAS (PDF) – Ambreen Ladha (Children’s Aid Society of Toronto)
Engaging community partners: Building pathways with social services (PDF) – Barbara Andrade (City of Toronto)
Management of substance-induced psychosis, depression, and anxiety (PDF) – Darren Holub MD FRCPC FASAM DABAM CCSAM
Thunder Bay RAAM clinic: Trauma-informed progress (PDF) – Julia MacArthur (Thunder Bay Counselling), Darcy McWhirter (St. Joseph’s Care Group), Georgina McKinnon (People Advocating for Change through Empowerment), Carleigh Taylor, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care
Making RAAMs accessible: Delivering culturally safe care to Indigenous clients (PDF) – Sheryl Lindsay (Anishnawbe Health Toronto)
HIV and Hep C: Screening, educating, and referring patients in addiction settings (PDF) – Courtney Thompson MD FRCPC MSc
Adjunct psychosocial services to RAAM (PDF) – Leslie Molnar (Women’s College Hospital)
Challenges in OAT treatment in fentanyl users (PDF) – Anita Srivastava MD MSc CCFP

Handouts

Transfer of care to PCP letter template (alcohol (.docx) / opioids (.docx))
Initial visit letter template (.docx)
Discharge letter template (.docx)
Microdosing (PDF)
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto: How and why children enter CAS care (PDF)
Child and Family Services: Reporting child abuse and neglect (PDF)
FAR services
FAR summer newsletter (PDF)

META:PHI Conference 2018: September 21-22

Slides

Introduction and welcome (PDF) – Kate Hardy, Sarah Clarke (META:PHI)
Engaging patients in care: Lessons learned from the Ottawa RAAM clinic (PDF) – Kim Corace, Melanie Willows (The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre)
Anishnawbe Health Toronto: Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (PDF) – Peter Wynne, Sheryl Lindsay, Leslie Saunders (Anishnawbe Health Toronto)
Considerations when working with women (PDF) – Lindsay Williams (Breakaway Addiction Services)
Special population considerations: The older adult (PDF) – Marilyn White-Campbell (Reconnect Community Mental Health Services)
Approaches for working with adolescents and youth who use alcohol and drugs (PDF) – Sharon Cirone (St. Joseph’s Health Centre)
Substance use in pregnancy: Top 10 tips for working with pregnant women (PDF) – Suzanne Turner (St. Michael’s Hospital)
Medical and psychosocial management of benzodiazepines, crystal meth, cocaine, and cannabis – Wiplove Lamba (St. Michael’s Hospital)
Engaging communities in the RAAM clinic process (PDF) – Mike Franklyn, Stephanie Paquette, Paola Folino (Health Sciences North)
Supporting families of those who use substances (PDF) – Irene Njoroge, Leslie Molnar (META:PHI)
Best practices for RAAM clinics (PDF) – Meldon Kahan (META:PHI)
Developing community pathways (PDF) – Camille Keith (META:PHI)
Emergency department care in the RAAM era: A critical partnership (PDF) – Larry Nijmeh (Lakeridge Health)
Trauma-informed care (PDF) – Leslie Molnar, Irene Njoroge (META:PHI)

Webinars: META:PHI hosts a virtual presentation on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern time. These sessions are relevant to all service providers, such as counsellors, prescribers, administrators, pharmacists, and community workers who work with people who use substances. All sessions are free.

Dialogue Series: The monthly Dialogue Call is open to healthcare providers across all disciplines. With Clinical Challenges in Substance-based Care as the main theme, each month different case studies will be presented for review and discussion. The Dialogue teleconference alternates between the first Tuesday at 8:00 AM and first Wednesday at 12:00 PM of each month. Contact laurie.smith@wchospital.ca to be added to the series. If you have a clinical case for discussion, please reach out.

2025 Dialogue Call Schedule

Tuesday Calls 8:00-8:45AM: February 4, April 1, June 3, October 7, December 1
Wednesday Calls 12:00-12:45PM: March 5, May 7, July 3, September 3, November 5

2025 Webinar Series

Session #5 – Wednesday, May 21, 2025 7-8:30 PM (Eastern time)

Minimizing Barriers and Improving Quality Palliative Care for People Who Use Drugs

Alissa Tedesco

Alissa Tedesco works as a palliative care physician at the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care and Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) in Toronto. She also previously practiced addiction medicine on the Substance Use Service at Women’s College Hospital. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto with academic interests in the palliative care needs of structurally vulnerable populations including people who use drugs, and social accountability in medical education. She serves as Deputy Lead and Education Lead for the PEACH program.

Learning Objectives

Enhance understanding of the barriers to quality palliative care faced by people who use drugs
Explore how to identify clients with substance use disorders who may benefit from a palliative approaches to care
Understand the importance of advance care planning and how to engage in effective discussions

2025 Webinar Schedule

Webinar Date and Time (Eastern Time)	Webinar Title
February 19 7:00-8:30 PM	*Skin Health and Wound Care: Working With* People Who Use Drugs** Erin Telegdi, Heather Mackay-Lams
March 19 7:00-8:30 PM	Gambling/Gaming and Digital Dependency Chelsea Rodrigues
April 16 7:00-8:30 PM	Involuntary Treatment, Capacity and Community Treatment Orders: An Introduction for Addictions Providers and Non-Psychiatrists Tanya Hauck, Michele Warner
May 21 7:00-8:30 PM	Minimizing Barriers and Improving Quality Palliative Care for People Who Use Drugs Alissa Tedesco
June 18 7:00-8:30 PM	Substance Use and Brain Injury Carolyn Lemsky
July, August	Summer Break
September 17 7:00-8:30 PM
October 15 7:00-8:30 PM
November 19 7:00-8:30 PM
December 17 7:00-8:30 PM

2025 Webinar Series Accreditation

College of Family Physicians of Canada – Mainpro+: This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto for up to 1.5 Mainpro+ credits per webinar.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Section 1: This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. You may claim a maximum of 1.5 hours per webinar (credits are automatically calculated).

Thank you to our 2025 Webinar Series Committee Members:

Jennifer Wyman (Chair)
Jennifer Brasch
Lisa Bromley
Katie Dunham
Robin Griller
Pia Heikkinen
Mae Katt
Adam McInnis
JP Michael
Ainko Ramanathan

Previous Sessions

April 16, 2025

Involuntary Treatment, Capacity and Community Treatment Orders: An Introduction for Addictions Providers and Non-Psychiatrists

Tanya Hauck, Michele Warner

March 19, 2025

Gambling/Gaming and Digital Dependency

Chelsea Rodrigues

February 19, 2025

Skin Health and Wound Care: Working With People Who Use Drugs

Erin Telegdi, Heather Mackay-Lams

January 15, 2025

ADHD and Substance Use Disorder: Chicken or the Egg?

Devon Shewfelt

December 11, 2024

Introduction to SMART Recovery and CRAFT
SMART Handout

Cynthia Moore

November 20, 2024

Eliminating Hepatitis C: The Role for Addiction Medicine Providers in Ontario

Kate Palbom, Bernadette Lettner

October 16, 2024

OAT and the Effects of Long-term Opioid Therapy
Testosterone Therapy (PDF)
Immune and Endocrine Systems (PDF)

Eyal Kraut, Lavarnan Sivanathan

September 18, 2024

ABCs of Drug Testing- Understanding What a Test Can and Cannot Tell You

Melissa Snider-Adler

June 19, 2024

Indigenous Culture as Healing

Carol Hopkins

June 4,2024

Psychiatric Care in RAAM Clinics (PDF)

Wiplove Lamba

May 15, 2024

NeuroNexus: Neurodivergence and Substance Use Health (PDF)
Additional Resources

Megan O’Brien

April 17, 2024

Measurement-Based Care for Substance Use Disorders (PDF)

James MacKillop

March 20, 2024

Considerations in the Care of People Who Use Stimulants (PDF)

Tanya Hauck, Stephanie Rochon

February 21, 2024

Treating Tobacco Use Disorder (PDF)

Milan Khara

May 10, 2023

Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (PDF)

Nathaniel Day

https://youtu.be/WL84Njv-g2E

April 12, 2023

Hospital Harm Reduction: Shifting Paradigms

Jean-Paul Michael, Kit Fairgrieve

March 8, 2023

Northwest Ontario RAAM Toolkit (PDF)

Pia Heikkinen, Denise Forsyth, Allison Crewe

February 8, 2023

Treating Poverty Means Treating Addiction (PDF)

Larisa Eibisch

June 8, 2022

Same, but Different: Naloxone in Bystander Response vs. Supervised Consumption Site Overdose Protocols

Tali Cahill

May 11, 2022

Managed Alcohol Programs: Example Operations, Successes and Challenges

Graydon Simmons

April 13, 2022

Adapting Evidence-based Psychotherapy for People Who Use Drugs: Principles and Practice

Wiplove Lamba, Josh Richardson

March 9, 2022

If Harm Reduction Didn’t Exist then Neither Would My Recovery: Bridging the Gaps

Guy Felicella

February 9, 2022

Withdrawal Management Considerations in the Toronto Community Withdrawal Management Context

Rosie Yoon, Linda Picken, Keith Hansen

Jan 12, 2022

Opioids, Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: What Can We Learn from the POINT Study?

Jonathan Bertram

This continuing professional development activity was held under the auspices of Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and META:PHI.

Accreditation

College of Family Physicians of Canada – Mainpro+

This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto for up to 1.5 Mainpro+ credits per session.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Section 1

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. You may claim a maximum of 1.5 hours per session (credits are automatically calculated).

Each participant should claim only those hours of credit that they actually spent participating in the educational program.

June 9, 2021

Inpatient Management of Opioid Withdrawal/Opioid Use Disorder

Christopher Fairgrieve

May 12, 2021

Pharmacists in Addiction Services: The Importance of Working Together

Beth Sproule, Kenny Chong

April 14, 2021

Approaches to Initiating Buprenorphine in the ED

Andrew Herring

March 10, 2021

Methadone Treatment in the Age of Fentanyl

Meldon Kahan, Lori Regenstreif, Sean LeBlanc

February 10, 2021

Slow Release Oral Morphine (SROM) for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

Suzanne Turner

January 13, 2021

Stimulants in RAAM: Pharmacologic and Contingency Management

Stephanie Rochon, Tanya Hauck

This continuing professional development activity was held under the auspices of Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and META:PHI.

Accreditation

College of Family Physicians of Canada – Mainpro+

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Section 1

Each participant should claim only those hours of credit that they actually spent participating in the educational program.

The META:PHI listserv is an active online community of more than 1,500 doctors, nurses, counsellors, pharmacists, administrators, and people with lived experience in Ontario and across Canada. It is a discussion forum for addiction-related questions, cases, articles, and policies.

History

The META:PHI listserv was started in 2015 with the first RAAM pilot projects in Ontario. It now includes more than 1500 members from across Canada (and increasingly, parts of the United States) representing many disciplines and sectors, both medical and non-medical. Its purpose is to facilitate discussion among colleagues across the addiction services field, including addiction medicine, harm reduction, counselling, and allied services and research.

Posts regarding clinical questions, resources, events, research, policy, and other topics related to work with people who use substances are welcome. META:PHI does not endorse any of the resources or opinions shared in this forum.

Signing up and participating

To access the group as a mailing list, send an e-mail to Laurie Smith with the following information:

Your role and institution
The e-mail address where you would like to receive the messages
How you would prefer to receive the messages:
- Receive each message as a separate e-mail
- Receive a daily digest e-mail with the text of up to 25 messages bundled together
- Receive a daily abridged e-mail with a summary of the day’s post subjects and authors (content of posts not included; viewable only through the online forum)
- Receive no e-mails; online forum access only

If you would like to access the group as an online forum, you will need to be signed up with an e-mail address that is associated with a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, go to the sign-up page to create an account. You can either create a new Gmail address (default) or use an existing e-mail account (click on “Use my current email address instead”). To join the group, sign into your Google account, go to the group page, click on “Apply for membership”, and write your role and institution in the text box.

To post a message to the group, e-mail your message to metaphi@googlegroups.com and it will be disseminated to all members after moderation. If you are signed up with a Google account, you can also post your messages on the group page.

To leave the group, send a blank email to metaphi+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.

Moderation

The META:PHI Google group is moderated; all messages are read by a moderator before they are posted to the group. If your message is not posted, you will receive a notification with an explanation. Messages may not be posted if they fall into any of the following categories:

Cases with identifying information (see below)
Replies to requests for services in a particular area (please send directly to the requester)
Messages intended for an individual (please double-check the “To” address)
“Low-content” messages (e.g., “Thanks!” “Interesting!”)
Posts that solicit referrals or advertise products/services
“Off-topic” messages that are not related to substance use
Posts that violate the code of conduct (see below)

When posting a clinical case, please do not include details that could result in your patient being identified by others. Please use general descriptions as much as possible (i.e., decade for age, approximate time frames for recent admissions/interventions), include only clinically relevant medical and social details, and avoid naming specific hospitals or treatment centres. The moderator may ask you to adjust a case presentation if the post contains potentially identifying information.

All messages that follow these rules will be posted. If you have any questions about why a message was not posted, please contact Laurie Smith.

Code of conduct

The purpose of the META:PHI Google group is to facilitate discussion among colleagues across the addiction services field. Debate is welcome, including critiques of policies and clinical practices related to the field of substance use. Posts must focus on policies and practices rather than individuals or groups. Messages containing personal attacks, insults, profanity, or threatening or abusive language will not be posted. Messages ascribing ill intent or reflecting bias towards individuals or groups will also not be allowed.

META:PHI advocates the use of people-first language . Members may be asked to rewrite any posts that contain stigmatizing language.

We request (but do not require) that members include their name and role at the end of each post.

If you have any concerns about a particular post, please contact Laurie Smith, who will take the concern to the META:PHI team.

Addiction-NP Google Group

Addiction-NP is a community of Nurse Practitioners with an interest in addiction care. It consists of a listserv, and monthly meeting held on the last Wednesday of the month at noon (excluding July and Aug). Nurse Practitioners from across Canada use this space to share knowledge, resources, concerns, ask questions, and make connections with other like-minded NPs.

NPs wishing to join can email Laurie Smith to receive a welcome message and a link to the next meeting.

META:PHI’s nurse practitioner Katie Dunham facilitates a monthly 60-minute teleconference for NPs with an interest in or focus on substance-related concerns. The casual discussion format encourages sharing cases, questions, advice, best practices, and current events.

Addictions NP teleconference: Last Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon

E-mail Laurie Smith to join.