Apr 21 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Laurie Brooks never thought she'd one day use magic mushrooms and advocate for the ability of others to do the same. The 55-year-old B.C. resident also never imagined having colon cancer and fearing the impact her imminent death would have on her husba...
Apr 15 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Researchers behind the latest guidance on drinking alcohol want Health Canada to update findings on its website to inform the public about safe levels of consumption. And federal Health Minister Jean-Yves agrees Canadians should have access to that "i...
Apr 7 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Nurses in Ontario and British Columbia say the western province's plan to set minimum nurse-to-patient ratios could help burnt-out nurses elsewhere in Canada by encouraging more provinces to adopt similar measures expected to reduce workloads and incre...
Apr 4 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — More Indigenous practitioners are needed to address systemic racism, but that can't happen without a supportive education system that also envisions them in leadership roles, says a report commissioned by Health Canada and touted as the first comprehen...
Mar 31 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Canada needs standardized data on violence on transit systems to help tackle issues ranging from a lack of mental health supports to eroding public trust, say researchers, citing the recent stabbing death of a 16-year-old boy at a Toronto station as th...
Mar 24 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Alisha Minielly was mystified as rashes suddenly started appearing all over her body, including one that persisted on her left leg for six months. She figured something in her makeup or shampoo could be the culprit and began switching to personal prod...
Mar 22 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Canada's race to procure ventilators for COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic had researchers, scientists, industry and a notable astrophysicist working "night and day"to design machines that could be quickly manufactured domestically. V...
Mar 9 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — A report released Thursday by Canada's chief science adviser says she considers COVID-19 the "head" of the pandemic but long COVID its "tail" as the illness inflicts significant harm on individuals, their families and potentially the country's economy....
Mar 1 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Proponents of British Columbia's move to provide free prescription contraception say the policy could spur other provinces to follow suit but a national plan would best serve people's reproductive needs and slash health-care costs overall. Obstetrician...
Feb 17 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — A pediatrician involved in creating new treatment guidelines for obese children in Canada says an "alarming" rise in obesity has led to a greater need for surgery for teens whose mental and physical suffering typically worsens into adulthood. Dr. Méla...
Feb 1 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — VANCOUVER — Members of an advocacy group for drug users have gathered to celebrate the start of decriminalization in British Columbia and discuss how they will "fight back" against any efforts to seize illicit substances that meet the 2.5-gram threshol...
Jan 31 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — VANCOUVER — Decriminalization of people with small amounts of illegal drugs for their own use has become a reality in British Columbia, but substance users and researchers say the change is expected to make little immediate difference because of a toxi...
Jan 23 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Canada's new guidance on alcohol is sparking plenty of debate, and while some experts say it could lead to frank conversations with health providers to help drinkers make informed choices, others are questioning the advice to imbibe fewer than two drin...
Jan 17 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — Canada has adopted new guidance on low-risk alcohol consumption, drastically slashing the amount of booze that was considered safe in 2011. A report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction says the latest evidence shows alcohol is a carci...
Jan 17 2023 — Camille Bains — The Canadian Press — A report on new drinking guidance from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction recommends warning labels be affixed to bottles and cans to inform consumers about serious health risks including cancer, the number and potency of drink servings...