SFU Vancouver Lunch 'n' Learn
About the Lunch 'n' Learn:
Date: Wednesday, April 2
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings St., room 2270
Why do we have a toxic drug crisis? Has harm reduction failed? Was decriminalization of drug possession a failure? Why is there so much public drug use? What can we do to stop drug poisoning deaths? Is a fentanyl tzar going to help? Can addiction treatment stop this crisis? Is involuntary treatment a good idea? Can we prevent our way out of this crisis? Where do we go from here? Blending expertise from decades of lived experience of substance use and a decade of recovery along with evidence-based research, presenters Guy Felicella and Professor Kora DeBeck will challenge common misconceptions, explore policies and offer ways forward during these challenging times.
The speaker presentations will be followed by a Q&A, so please bring your questions.
This is an in-person event with lunch provided.
About the Speakers:
Guy Felicella is a harm reduction advocate and addiction educator who has spent 3 decades in the grips of addiction and surviving many life-threatening infections. Guy Felicella spends his time educating youth and consulting with political leaders and policymakers on the importance of alcohol and drug prevention. Guy Felicella is currently employed by Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Centre on Substance Use and delivers inspirational talks on overcoming homelessness, addiction, and the effects of trauma and mental health challenges. Through personal stories, Guy Felicella champions resilience, advocates for changing biases toward those marginalized by addiction, and emphasizes the transformative power of human connection.
Kora DeBeck is a SFU Distinguished Professor of Substance Use and Drug Policy in the School of Public Policy, a CIHR Applied Public Health Chair, and a Dorothy Killam Fellow. She is also a Research Scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use and the Principal Investigator for the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), a longitudinal cohort of 500 street-involved youth who use drugs in Vancouver. With >200 peer-reviewed journal articles and a strong track record of knowledge mobilization and cross-sector engagement, Kora鈥檚 work seeks to drive reforms in substance use policy and health services.