New Indigenous-Led Research Project Receives Health Canada Funding for Harm Reduction Program For Individuals Living With Opioid Use Disorder

The Gitpo Spirit Lodge Harm Reduction Pilot Program Incorporating Cannabinoid-based Medicine Pilot Program will include a diverse team of specialists to evaluate the use of cannabinoid products among individuals currently receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) such as: methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine).

Roger Augustine, retired Assembly of First Nation Regional Chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and founder of Gitpo Spirit Lodge, spent his forty-six-year, career developing and implementing harm reduction and wellness programs for members in his community of Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation and other First Nation communities. This Pilot Program advances both his journey and work in First Nations across the country.

“Our primary goal”, he stated, “is to support harm reduction and wellness and community members who have been regularly excluded from the decisions that affect their lives and those of their brothers and sisters and be supported in regaining their rightful place in this community leading active and contributing roles, including leadership.”

medical cannibinoids
The mission of the Harm Reduction Program is to study, document, and to clinically evaluate how medically prescribed cannabinoids could be an alternative treatment for current Opioid Agonist Therapies (OAT).

Denise and Brent Hannay, founders of E.C.O. Canadian Organic, a local, Health Canada licensed producer initiated a meeting with Chief Roger Augustine in October 2020 to present their pilot project and vision of medically prescribed cannabinoids as replacement therapy for individuals living with opioid use disorder which became the foundation of our project. “E.C.O. is honored to have the opportunity to work with Gitpo Spirit Lodge and First Nations with the strategic partners to aid in the reduction of opioid dependency.” stated Denise Hannay, CEO and President.

The Pilot Program has received $1,193,514 through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), which provides grants and contributions funding to respond to drug and substance use issues.  SUAP provides funding for a wide range of innovative and evidence-informed projects addressing problematic substance use, prevention, harm reduction, and treatment initiatives across the country.

“Indigenous Peoples carry a disproportionate burden of the harms related to the toxic drug and overdose crisis, making it imperative that we invest in community-led projects that can connect people with the culturally sensitive and trauma informed supports they need,” said the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health.“ Today’s funding will directly support Indigenous people and allow Gitpo Spirit Lodge to make a significant difference in helping those who are struggling with substance use.” 

Gitpo Spirit Lodge is an Indigenous wellness center with an overarching goal of meaningfully engaging with tradition in offering harm reduction and wellness programing to ensure that community members, and their communities, can thrive by regaining a sense of self and place.

Gitpo Spirit Lodge will work with Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation and Dr. Shelley Turner, a proud member of the Pimicikamak First Nation in Cross Lake, Manitoba, who will provide consultation for cannabinoid-based medicine programming for participants and will lead the medical clinical research team through an ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP) lens.

Gitpo Spirit Lodge, Eel Ground, New Brunswick
Gitpo Spirit Lodge, Eel Ground, New Brunswick

The community of Natoaganeg First Nation will be a key partner in this patient-oriented project, and will be involved in its development, design, and implementation.

Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation stated “We know that there are members in our community who have experienced, or continue to experience, trauma and who are trying to take control of their lives and their futures “This project provides us with an innovative opportunity to help our members who are struggling, and to reduce the harm related to pharmaceutical treatment for opioid addiction challenging our members, our families, and our communities.”

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) will provide non-medical research support through the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative individual and community data focusing on the impact of the cannabinoid treatment option. UNB will ensure that this collection and use of data respects participants, their communities, and the principles of ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP). UNB’s research contribution will be led by Dr. Rob Moir, associate professor of business and director of the Urban and Community Studies Institute, and by the New Brunswick Institute for Data, Research and Training (NB-IRDT).

The proprietary cannabinoid products will be provided by E.C.O. a local, Health Canada licensed producer that has a focus on supporting First Nation communities by promoting wellness and harm reduction and developing health and wellness services.

Roger Augustine concluded, “I’m very proud of this Indigenous led, strategic, multi-partnered, research- backed, wellness and harm reduction project. I want to express my gratitude to Denise and Brent Hannay for their vision and support on this very important stage of my journey. ”

The initial stages of the project will run over a two-year period, with development currently underway.

The Harm Reduction Program is a collaborative endeavor led by Gitpo Spirit Lodge and supported by a group of strategic partners who want to offer an option in the treatment spectrum for individuals who are currently receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT).