Research Summary

Creating Culturally Safe Care in Hospital Settings for People who use(d) Illicit Drugs

The stigma and criminalization associated with illicit drug use is increased for people living in poverty, impacting health and acting as a barrier to accessing care. Negative experiences in hospitals can lead people to avoid seeking care and, if admitted, to leave before their care is complete. This CARBC research bulletin addresses the concept of cultural safety which has been used to guide nursing practice in ways that counteract the problems of stigma, discrimination and inequitable access to care, particularly when working with Indigenous peoples.