Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
@uviccisur.bsky.social
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Promoting health, reducing harm. Official account of UVic's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.
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uviccisur.bsky.social
Are you an academically outstanding #uvic grad student whose focus of research builds and supports community-wide knowledge that promotes wellbeing with reference to substance use and mental health? Apply for the new Samit & Resha Sharma Scholarship! Open until Sept 15. www.uvic.ca/graduatestud...
A poster on a white, blue, purple and yellow background that reads: "Samit & Reshma Sharma Scholarship in Mental Health and Addiction. Open to outstanding UVic graduate students whose focus of research builds and supports community-wide knowledge that promotes wellbeing with reference to substance use and mental health. Apply by Sept 15, 2025. Details at cisur.ca or scan the QR code: https://www.uvic.ca/graduatestudies/finances/search-funding/award-pages/samit-and-reshma-sharma-scholarship-in-mental-health-and-addiction.php" The logo for the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research is in the top right corner, with a purple illustration of a head down below.
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
uvichealthresearch.bsky.social
📣 Reminder about this unique opportunity for @uvic.ca
grad. students!

Apply for STRIDE — our 10-month mentorship program to develop your research skills & become a leader in your field.

📅 Deadline: Wed. Oct 15, 4PM PT

👉 Apply here: tinyurl.com/bdhpakwe
STRIDE - University of Victoria
STRIDE &amp;#8211; Student Training for Research and Interdisciplinary Development and E</...
tinyurl.com
uviccisur.bsky.social
"Liver harm caused by alcohol is a public health problem. Collectively, we need to take better care of our livers by taking steps to reduce alcohol consumption in the population."
CISUR's Tim Naimi in @ca.theconversation.com #alcoholpolicy #alcoholresearch
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
uviccisur.bsky.social
“We’ve seen this playbook before with the tobacco industry trying to discredit science around smoking’s harms." -CISUR's Tim Stockwell
uviccisur.bsky.social
"After the initial test is conducted, data is sent to Substance Drug Checking in Victoria, which will provide a detail breakdown of the sample’s contents, with percentages. This information is expected to be available within a week, and will be provided to clients, explained Rai."
uviccisur.bsky.social
“Alcohol & its health impacts have been making headlines more often, but we haven’t seen meaningful policy decisions that could protect public health.The extensive lobbying of government officials by the alcohol industry is likely one of those reasons." -study co-author and CISUR director Tim Naimi
uviccisur.bsky.social
The alcohol industry was more likely to meet with non-elected government officials, such as senior policy officials and chiefs of staff.
uviccisur.bsky.social
The analysis found:
The alcohol industry accounted for 71% of all meetings recorded, with 13 alcohol industry organizations registered vs 4 for public health.
Of the 4 PH orgs, 1 accounted for 95% of meetings and 1 had 0 meetings.
uviccisur.bsky.social
Researchers classified lobbyists as to whether they represented the alcohol industry or a non-industry public health group. The number of meetings and who lobbyists met with during that time was recorded.
uviccisur.bsky.social
New paper alert: Alcohol lobbying in Canada: a quantitative analysis of the federal registry of lobbyists academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
The paper, published in Health Promotion International, examined lobbyist registrations in the Canadian Federal Registry of Lobbyists from May 2022-May 2023.
A  yellow poster that reads :"New publication alert, Alcohol Industry Lobbying in Canada. Learn more: cisur.ca"

The poster depicts a graphic of Parliament Hill and two hands shaking each other. the logo for the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research appears on the bottom.
uviccisur.bsky.social
"These findings highlight the need for strategies to mitigate potential harm in low SES groups and the widening of existing inequities."
cjphrcsp.bsky.social
Just published online first @cjphrcsp.bsky.social Commentary: Increase in alcohol outlets by neighbourhood socioeconomic status following the expansion of alcohol sales into convenience stores in Ontario, Canada (Schwartz et al.) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
uviccisur.bsky.social
Only one more week to apply for the new Samit & Resha Sharma Scholarship!
If you're a #UVic Graduate Student doing research in substance use and/or mental health, apply here by September 15: www.uvic.ca/graduatestud...
A poster on a white, teal and yellow background with a graphic of a head with a plant growing in it. Text reads: "Samit and Reshma Sharma Scholarship in Mental Health and Addiction. Open to outstanding  UVic graduate students whose focus of research builds and supports community-wide knowledge that promotes wellbeing with reference to substance use and mental health. Apply by September 15, 2025. Details at cisur.ca." A logo for the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research is in the top right corner.
uviccisur.bsky.social
“The key message is that drinking two drinks a day may be moderate from a social perspective, but when it comes to health, it’s a pretty risky amount." CISUR's Tim Naimi in @nytimes.com.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/h...
Federal Report on Drinking Is Withdrawn
www.nytimes.com
uviccisur.bsky.social
"For this story, I spoke with three of the six authors of the study: Martinez, Keyes, and co-author Tim Naimi, an alcohol researcher affiliated with @uvic.ca and Boston University. They all emphasized that they had sought to conduct a study that would fairly represent America’s alcohol consumption."
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
cjphrcsp.bsky.social
NEW ISSUE @cjphrcsp.bsky.social Volume 116, Issue 3 Special Section on the Public Health Response to the Overdose Crisis in Canada link.springer.com/journal/4199...
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
jenstden.bsky.social
“The Tyee is just learning about this now because it took 16 months for the Vancouver Police Department to release requested data about how many of its officers were trained on decriminalization.” thetyee.ca/News/2025/08...
VPD Officers Weren’t Fully Prepared for Drug Decriminalization | The Tyee
Data released 16 months after an FOI request shows one-third hadn’t finished the available training by the launch of the pilot project.
thetyee.ca
uviccisur.bsky.social
“I do believe the change in public sentiment is a good reflection of the change in science — and that the risks of alcohol, in what some people might have previously considered low levels, are higher than previously appreciated." -CISUR Director Tim Naimi
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Americans are drying out: More say alcohol is unhealthy, poll finds
Groups showing pronounced declines in drinking over the last two years include young people, women and Republicans.
www.washingtonpost.com
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
hghobbs.bsky.social
This short video is a couple years old & worth a re-share, IMHO. A lot of misinformation is circulated about prescribed alternatives & this lays out some of the facts plainly. As we approach #IOAD25, it's worth taking the time to understand the many ways #HarmReductionWorks

youtu.be/iRuXM8aS-4U
Victoria SAFER Initiative: Safer Supply Program
YouTube video by CATIE
youtu.be
uviccisur.bsky.social
"Two public gatherings in Victoria this month will honour lives lost to toxic drug poisonings and call for stronger action to address the ongoing crisis."
Aug 17: BC Legislature
Aug 31: Broad View United Church (3703 St Aidans St.).

More info:
www.vicnews.com/local-news/g...
Greater Victoria prepares to mark International Overdose Awareness Day
2 public gatherings will honour the more than 16,000 people in B.C. lost to toxic drug poisonings since 2016
www.vicnews.com
Reposted by Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
gallup.com
Gallup @gallup.com · Aug 13
A record-low 54% of Americans say they consume alcohol.