WORLD SPINE CARE HELD AS AN EXAMPLE FOR COLLABORATIVE STUDY MODEL WITHIN AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

On December 2, World Spine Care (WSC) was one of two organizations lauded for the collaborative manner in which they modelled their studies of Indigenous communities. At a press conference at which Health Canada announced $10 million in funding for Substance Abuse and Addictions Programs (SUAP) across Canada, Minister Carolyn Bennett highlighted World Spine Care (WSC) as well as Native Child and Family Services Toronto for its harm reduction education program for Indigenous Peoples.

WSC was singled out for its impact study and implementation to evaluate the integration of the WSC/GSCI (Global Spine Care Initiative) model of spine care within an Indigenous community and to evaluate the impact of delivering spine care in a remote community. The study includes the examination of the use of opioids, narcotics and other medications for MSK pain and the acceptance of the community to these spine care services.

According to The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, “Indigenous Peoples carry a disproportionate burden of the harms related to substance use, including opioids. Organizations like World Spine Care Canada make a significant difference in helping Indigenous communities struggling with chronic pain build evidence for the culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed health supports they need.” Initiatives like Reducing barriers to conservative spine care to minimize opioid exposure: A global spine care implementation will help improve the quality of life of Indigenous people living with spinal issues and reduce substance use harms in the Cross Lake First Nation Community in Manitoba.