People who use illegal drugs all too often experience stigma and discrimination, criminalization and marginalization in Canada. Substance use has both immediate and chronic health consequences that may require healthcare. However, people who use illegal drugs often experience difficulty accessing equitable care, and stigma has been identified as a key barrier to access. This study explores the provision of health care by nurses in an emergency department for people who use illegal drugs, and the impact of hospital policies and procedures on nurses’ capacity to provide care. The study uses data from in-depth interviews with nurses and policy leaders, and analyses policy documents discussed by nurses in the interviews. This study found that neoliberal policies that result in downsizing of social programs means that patients come to emergency departments with a broad set of health and socials needs that extend beyond what nurses can do. The study also uncovered a lack of cultural safety for Aboriginal patients seeking care. Finally, the study discovered the existence of a culture of stigma in the emergency department. The culture of stigma is transmitted and taken up through individual attitudes, relations of power, intake and treatment protocols, critical policy absences and problematic policy. This study concludes with recommendations for policy development and for future research in this area. / Graduate / 0680 / 0573 / 0569 / heyriver@shaw.ca

People who use illegal drugs all too often experience stigma and discrimination, criminalization and marginalization in Canada. Substance use has both immediate and chronic health consequences that may require healthcare. However, people who use illegal drugs often experience difficulty accessing equitable care, and stigma has been identified as a key barrier to access. This study explores the provision of health care by nurses in an emergency department for people who use illegal drugs, and the impact of hospital policies and procedures on nurses’ capacity to provide care. The study uses data from in-depth interviews with nurses and policy leaders, and analyses policy documents discussed by nurses in the interviews. This study found that neoliberal policies that result in downsizing of social programs means that patients come to emergency departments with a broad set of health and socials needs that extend beyond what nurses can do. The study also uncovered a lack of cultural safety for Aboriginal patients seeking care. Finally, the study discovered the existence of a culture of stigma in the emergency department. The culture of stigma is transmitted and taken up through individual attitudes, relations of power, intake and treatment protocols, critical policy absences and problematic policy. This study concludes with recommendations for policy development and for future research in this area. / Graduate / 0680 / 0573 / 0569 / heyriver@shaw.ca