Author profile
Jane A. Buxton, MBBS, MHSc, FRCPC
Correctional institutions in BC offer a variety of health and education programs for women, including drug and alcohol counseling, Narcotics/Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and Native liaison services. Incarcerated... Read More
Opioid overdose is a public health issue in British Columbia. In 2009, more than 200 deaths were identified as illicit drug deaths (IDD),[1] opiates were found in 60%,[2] and an additional 74 deaths were in persons... Read More
Cases of agranulocytosis associated with the use of cocaine containing levamisole were identified in British Columbia in 2008 following an alert from Alberta.[1] From early 2008 to February 2011, 45 cases were reported... Read More
Conceptually, harm reduction is an approach that reduces the harmful effects of behavior. It involves a range of nonjudgmental approaches and strategies aimed at providing and enhancing the knowledge, skills, resources... Read More
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects about 1.5% of British Columbians. The incubation period is usually 6 to 9 weeks. However over 80% of persons acutely infected with HCV are asymptomatic and may have undiagnosed... Read More
Background Hepatitis B (HB) is a viral infection that can be acquired by vertical transmission. Approximately 90% of infants infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) will progress to chronic infection, with the possible... Read More
Introduction Influenza viruses cause acute respiratory infection and can affect people of any age. The elderly, the very young, and the chronically ill are particularly susceptible to the complications of this... Read More
Introduction Because of its highly communicable and debilitating nature, influenza is the most dramatic infectious organism affecting elderly people. About 90% of the more than 1200 deaths each year in BC due to... Read More