Special Issue of CJEN – The importance
of harm reduction in emergency nursing
practice
Christopher Picard1, Heather McLellan2, Dawn Peta3, Kar Lin Su3, Jeanesse Bourgeois4, Gabriela Peguero-
Rodriguez5, Alexandra Lapierre6, Matt Douma3, Michelle Lalonde7
1 University of Alberta, Faculty of Nursing
2 Mount Royal University, School of Nursing and Midwifery
3 Alberta Health Services
4 CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
5 Université du Québec en Outaouais, Nursing Department
6 Université de Montréal, Faculty of Nursing
7 University of Ottawa
Corresponding Editor: Christopher Picard - picard@ualberta.ca
The Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing (CJEN) is dedicating
this special issue to exploring the connections
between emergency nursing, substance use, and harm
reduction. Inviting guest editors and dedicating special editions
to specific topics is not new or novel - CJEN has partnered with
other organizations; hosted conference abstracts (McLane and
Lang, 2020; McLane & Lang, 2021; Fisher et al. 2022; Fisher
et al., 2023); co-published statements from the CIHR (Lau,
2021); and has worked closely with the Canadian Forensic
Nurses Association (Doyle, 2013; Early, 2014; Forensic Nurses
Society of Canada, 2014). While inviting guest editors and
curating special issues on specific topics is a well-established
practice for CJEN, this issue marks a first for CJEN by unifying
the entire edition under a single theme: substance use and harm
reduction.
CJEN has a proud history of exploring the impacts of substance
use on nurses, their workplaces, and substance-related patient
characteristics (Rush, 2005). The interplay between mental
health and substance use (Hilton et al., 2023), and the effects of
substance use at a population level (Patterson & Douma, 2020;
Picard et al., 2024) also reflect previously published articles.
CJEN has a strong history of amplifying voices in harm reduction,
examining how these practices are implemented (Horvath
& Carter, 2024; Low, 2020), their effects on nurses (Mercier et
al., 2023), their impact on patient outcomes (Whitman et al.,
2020) and system burdens (Vorobeichik et al., 2022).
Substance use and harm reduction have a significant impact
on the daily operations of our emergency departments. As
our healthcare system continues to grapple with the opioid
crisis and other substance-related challenges, harm reduction
strategies play a crucial role in delivering comprehensive care
while mitigating adverse health impacts related to substance
use. This special edition features original research articles that
shed light on how these pressing issues are impacting nurses,
patients, and emergency department teams across Canada.
The articles delve into theory, impressions, and efforts to
address these rising challenges. To ensure a well-rounded perspective,
we have collaborated with our harm reduction nursing
counterparts in presenting this edition. We hope you enjoy
this special edition!
REFERENCES
Doyle, R. M. (2013). Upstream thinking about victims of intentional
violence: The wisdom of forensic nurse examiners. Canadian
Journal of Emergency Nursing, 36(2), 27–29. https://doi.
org/10.29173/cjen449
Early, S. (2014). Review of forensic nursing: Evidence-based principles
and practice. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 37(1),
29–29. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen474
Fisher, A., McLane, P., & Lang, E. (2022). The Alberta Health Services
Emergency Strategic Clinical Network™ Quality Improvement
and Innovation Forum presented on February 22, 2022. Canadian
Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.29173/
cjen191
Fisher, A., McL, P., & Lang, E. (2023). The Alberta Health Services
Emergency Strategic Clinical Network™ Quality Improvement
and Innovation Forum 2023. Canadian Journal of Emergency
Nursing, 46(1). https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen224
Forensic Nurses’ Society of Canada. (2014). Sheila Early, A nurse to
know. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 37(1), 13–13.
https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen467
Hilton, E., Smith, J., Szeto, A., Knaak, S., Chan, E., Grimminck, R.,
… Mustapha, W. (2023). Exploring mental health barriers in
emergency rooms (EMBER). Canadian Journal of Emergency
Nursing, 46(1), 15–16. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen209
ISSN: 2293-3921 (print) | ISSN: 2563-2655 (online) | https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen510
Print publisher: Pappin Communications http://pappin.com | Online publisher: University of Alberta www.library.ualberta.ca/publishing/open-journals
Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing · Vol. 48, No. 1, Spring 2025 5
Horvath, S., & Carter, N. (2024). Closing gaps in emergency care:
The vital role of advanced practice nurses in serving vulnerable
populations. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(2), 138–
143. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen229
Lau, F. (2021). A commentary on the action plan to modernize gender,
sex and sexual orientation information practices in Canadian
digital health systems. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing,
44(1), 24–27. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen121
Low, K. (2020). Initiating buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid use
eisorder in the emergency department. Canadian Journal of
Emergency Nursing, 43(1), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.29173/
cjen15
McLane, P., & Lang, E. (2020). The Emergency Strategic Clinical
Network (ESCN) quality improvement and innovation forum.
Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 43(2), 1. https://doi.
org/10.29173/cjen56
McLane, P. ., & Lang, E. (2021). The Alberta Health Services Emergency
Strategic Clinical Network Quality Improvement and Innovation
forum 2021. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(2), 1–2.
https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen150
Mercier, D., Douma, M., & Montgomery, C. (2022). Inpatient
supervised consumption services: A nursing perspective.
Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(3), 11–13. https://doi.
org/10.29173/cjen200
Patterson, C., & Douma, M. (2020). Understanding British Columbia’s
opioid-related public interest during the crisis: A Google Trendsbased
exploration of online health information-seeking behaviour.
Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 41(1), 15–18. https://doi.
org/10.29173/cjen64
Picard, C., Montgomery, C. L., Violato, E. M., Douma, M. J., & Norris,
C. M. (2024). From triage to treatment: A population-level
descriptive retrospective time-series analysis of emergency
department visits in Alberta during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(2), 111–137. https://
doi.org/10.29173/cjen226
Rush, C., & Walton, S. (2005). Methamphetamine intoxication and
related emergency situations. Canadian Journal of Emergency
Nursing, 28(1), 10–14. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen338
Vorobeichik, A., Yaphe, H., Feldmann, A., Taghizadeh, N., Wang, D., &
Lang, E. (2022). Impact of Calgary’s supervised consumption site
on opioid-related emergency health care usage. Canadian Journal
of Emergency Nursing, 45(2), 6–7. https://doi.org/10.29173/
cjen183
Whitman, S., Zaganelli, C., & Luzny, S. (2020). iOAT in the ED –
Lessons learned: Abstract from the Emergency Department
Strategic Clinical Network Quality and Innovation Forum, Red
Deer, Alberta, February 2020. Canadian Journal of Emergency
Nursing, 43(2), 22. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen51

## Références

R. M. (2013). Upstream thinking about victims of intentional violence: The wisdom of Forensic Nurse Examiners. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 36(2), 27–29. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen449

S. (2014). Review of Forensic Nursing: Evidence-Based Principles and Practice. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 37(1), 29–29. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen474

A., McLane, P., & Lang, E. (2022). The Alberta Health Services Emergency Strategic Clinical Network™ Quality Improvement and Innovation Forum presented on February 22, 2022. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen191

A., McL, P., & Lang, E. (2023). The Alberta Health Services Emergency Strategic Clinical Network™ Quality Improvement and Innovation Forum 2023. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 46(1). https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen224

Nurses' Society of Canada. (2014). Sheila Early, A nurse to know. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 37(1), 13–13. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen467

E., Smith, J., Szeto, A., Knaak, S., Chan, E., Grimminck, R., … Mustapha, W. (2023). Exploring Mental health Barriers in Emergency Rooms (EMBER). Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 46(1), 15–16. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen209

S., & Carter, N. (2024). Closing gaps in emergency care: The vital role of Advanced Practice Nurses in serving vulnerable populations. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(2), 138–143. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen229

F. (2021). A Commentary on the Action Plan to Modernize Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation Information Practices in Canadian Digital Health Systems. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(1), 24–27. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen121

K. (2020). Initiating Buprenorphine/Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 43(1), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen15

P., & Lang, E. (2020). The Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (ESCN) quality improvement and innovation forum. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 43(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen56

P. ., & Lang, E. (2021). The Alberta Health Services Emergency Strategic Clinical Network Quality Improvement and Innovation forum 2021. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(2), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen150

D., Douma, M., & Montgomery, C. (2022). Inpatient supervised consumption services: A nursing perspective. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(3), 11–13. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen200

C., & Douma, M. (2020). Understanding British Columbia’s opioid-related public interest during the crisis: A Google Trends-based exploration of online health information-seeking behaviour. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 41(1), 15–18. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen64

C., Montgomery, C. L., Violato, E. M., Douma, M. J., & Norris, C. M. (2024). From triage to treatment: A population level descriptive retrospective time-series analysis of emergency department visits in Alberta during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(2), 111–137. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen226

C., & Walton, S. (2005). Methamphetamine intoxication and related emergency situations. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 28(1), 10–14. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen338

A., Yaphe, H., Feldmann, A., Taghizadeh, N., Wang, D., & Lang, E. (2022). Impact of Calgary’s supervised consumption site on opioid-related emergency health care usage. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(2), 6–7. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen183

S., Zaganelli, C., & Luzny, S. (2020). iOAT in the ED – Lessons Learned: Abstract from the Emergency Department Strategic Clinical Network Quality and Innovation Forum, Red Deer, Alberta, February 2020. Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing, 43(2), 22. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen51