27. Learning from Lived Experience in Urban Health and Addictions Medicine

We are back with another episode! In this podcast, I spoke with Bryan Becker, who is presently working in peer support at the RAAC clinic at St.Pauls Hospital. RAAC stands for rapid access addiction clinic: this service provides addiction medicine assessments for any substance use issue, including alcohol. It serves to maximize treatment support for clients, provide training and distribution of Take Home Naloxone, offer harm reduction services and to facilitate referrals to substance use services. Support Workers like Bryan are individuals with lived experience of mental illness or substance use who have graduated from a Peer Support Worker Training Program. These individuals work on a contracted basis under the supervision of Rehabilitation staff with clients who access Vancouver Mental Health and Substance Use programs and services. On his own time, Bryan enjoys BMX, the beach, 3rd Beach drum circle, movies, reading and helping others.

I am so honoured to have had the chance to speak with Bryan, and I hope everyone listening takes away as much as I did from the stories and advice that he shares.