Supporting Substance Use Care Away From Home

Podcast

Season 7: Episode 3 - October 27 2026

Runtime: 45:48

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SHOW NOTES

Summary

In this episode, David P. Ball and Dr. Alison Hamilton are back to discuss the coordination and planning required when people with substance use disorders must leave their rural and/or remote communities to receive health care. They first speak with Dr. Pier-Maude Lanteigne, a primary care physician in Nunavut with expertise in addictions medicine. Dr. Lanteigne provides clinical insights and strategies to support patients receiving care away from home. David then hears from Dr. Mona Kwong, a Vancouver-based pharmacist who speaks to how health care providers can support transitions between rural and/or remote communities and urban settings. Finally, David is joined by returning guests from Season 2, Shawn Wood, an advocate for people who use substances and research associate, who shares unique perspectives about enhancing healing supports in rural and remote or Indigenous communities that could reduce the need for travel to urban areas.

Lineup

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • [2:20] – Dr. Pier-Maude Lanteigne, Guest – Family Physician, Addiction Medicine Specialist – Nunavut
  • [23:45] – Dr. Mona Kwong, Guest – BSc(Pharm), PharmD, MSc, Director of the Clinical Addiction Pharmacy Fellowship and Pharmacy Advisor – BCCSU
  • [37:00] – Shawn Wood, Guest – Peer Advocate, Research Associate – First Nations Health Authority & Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research, Saddle Lake Cree Nation (Bear Clan)

Clinical Pearls

Here’s what listeners can take away from this episode:

  1. Reintegration is just as important as coordinating the travel for care; Supporting patients with culturally safe and trauma informed care upon their return helps to avoid retraumatizing patients.
  2. Use way-finding tools like a checklist when a patient needs to travel, that keep track of the essential travel items such as: When does the person take medications? Do we shift the timing if time zone changes? What’s needed to legally travel with this medication?
  3. If a patient needs to temporarily move for care, help the patient connect with the peer support network in that community to ensure a more comforting and familiar environment in a new setting.
  4. Work with Indigenous communities to incorporate traditional ways of knowing and land-based wellness in treatment and recovery in patient’s home communities.

Resources

Mentioned in episode

Supports for care providers

Supports for patients

Videos

Reports, statistics, and guidance

Articles