Latest news with #UniversityOfAlberta
CBC
8 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Bringing back mowed-down sage
A Métis scholar at the University of Alberta's Augustana campus is working to bring back a sage field that was mowed down accidentally.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Silent epidemic': Study warns of deadly drug mix on the streets
A growing number of overdose deaths in North America involve a dangerous combination of opioids and stimulants, a trend that researchers in a new study are calling a 'silent epidemic.' Led by the University of Alberta, the study warns that while public attention remains focused on opioids like fentanyl and heroin, stimulant use is increasing each year, playing a far greater role in overdose fatalities across Canada and the United States. 'This is actually a North American thing,' said Bo Cao, lead author of the study and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Alberta, in a video interview with 'If you take a look at other developed countries, for example, the U.K., Australia, and other parts of Europe, you actually don't see this alarming increase every year for opioid related deaths.' The study analyzed overdose death data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the U.S. between 1999 and 2021, as well as trends from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System, including opioid use between 2016 and 2022 and stimulant use between 2018 and 2022. The researchers found that people who use both opioids and stimulants, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unknowingly due to contaminated street drugs, are at a higher risk of overdose. 'If the drug is contaminated, I don't think we currently have a very good way to check it,' said Cao. 'Sometimes people think they're using stimulants, but if there is some contamination and they are also not tolerant to high-potency opioids, they overdose unconsciously.' What's in the mix? Opioids are a class of drugs used primarily to treat pain. They include both prescription medications like morphine and oxycodone, as well as powerful street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. 'Opioid is usually a strong painkiller medically, but it's actually used for other purposes,' said Cao. 'The most famous ones are morphine and fentanyl.' Many of today's most dangerous opioids, including fentanyl, are synthetic, meaning they are made in a lab rather than derived from the opium poppy. Stimulants, on the other hand, are substances that increase alertness, energy and attention. Some, like those used to treat ADHD, are legal and medically prescribed. But illicit stimulants, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, are commonly used recreationally and are often found in the unregulated drug supply. Three waves of opioid crisis Researchers say the opioid crisis in North America has unfolded in three distinct waves. The first was fuelled by prescription painkillers, the second by heroin, and the third, still ongoing, by the widespread availability of powerful synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. But the current wave, they argue, is increasingly defined by the co-use of opioids and stimulants. In 2021 alone, more than 80,000 opioid-related deaths were reported in the United States, and nearly 8,000 in Canada. Many of those involved stimulants. 'Once you look at the deaths that involved both opioid and stimulants, you actually see they are increasing at an even higher speed compared to the opioid-related deaths,' Cao said. A crisis the public isn't seeing Researchers also used Google Trends to gauge public awareness and found that, while searches for opioids remain relatively high, public interest in stimulants has dropped sharply since the mid-2000s, despite an alarming rise in deaths involving both types of substances. 'There is a trend, and it's quite clear that the public is not picking this up,' said Cao. 'Maybe only the ones who get access to these drugs or who actually help those people cope with these problems ... they probably know better.' The gap in awareness could have real-world consequences, the study warns, since public perception often shapes how policies are made and where funding is directed. Stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine are often used in combination with opioids in a mix known as a 'speedball,' a term well-known on the street, says Guy Felicella, a harm reduction and recovery advocate in British Columbia. 'The combination together is that they usually enhance each other's highs,' he said in a video interview with 'The calming effect or the come-down from the fentanyl can level off the stimulant as well.' While people have been mixing opioids and stimulants for years, Felicella says today's unpredictable street drug supply is more dangerous than ever. 'What's predominantly killing people on the street is not the stimulants — unless they're tainted with fentanyl,' he said. 'If you are a stimulant user only, and you're buying cocaine and it does contain fentanyl, then you are at extreme risk for death.' Turning data into action To better understand and prevent overdose deaths, Cao and his team have also developed a machine-learning model that can predict an individual's risk of overdose using population-level health data. Researchers say their study, recently published in the journal Nature, could help policymakers identify high-risk individuals or communities, target interventions more effectively and allocate resources with greater precision. For Cao, the next step is clear: apply the science responsibly, collaborate across sectors and bring affected communities into the conversation. 'If we have such tools, such insights from the data, how can we make them more useful to clinicians, to patients, to families and caregivers?' he said, adding that requires real engagement, not just research.
CBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Nursing student hopes to inspire more Indigenous youth to pursue careers in health care
Makayla Mantla never thought she'd be a nurse. But now she's in her fourth year at the University of Alberta. And she was personally selected to be part of a national advisory committee on Indigenous nursing and health
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U of A ending rental agreements with on-campus fraternities, sororities
The University of Alberta is ending its rental agreements with fraternities and sororities, including some organizations that have been on campus for decades. Alpha Gamma Delta, a fraternity at the University of Alberta, has rented their house for 29 years, using the space as a home for five members and as a community hub. But in late April, Alpha Gamma Delta and six other Greek life organizations were told that the university would be terminating their rental agreements with no chance of renewal. In a statement given to CBC News, the U of A said that "maintaining these older homes to a standard that meets the modern needs of today's students is not sustainable, given increasing costs and inflationary pressures." The university said 27 students would be affected by the decision. For most organizations, their final lease will end on August 31, 2026, the U of A said. Quinn Tilling, president of Alpha Gamma Delta, told Edmonton AM that the school's reasoning was "frustrating." "I lived in our house for the last semester of this previous year and I could count on one hand the number of times we had to request maintenance support from the university. I'm interested to see where the drain is coming from." Tilling said that finding alternative housing has been difficult because the fraternity needs a physical space for members to meet. "We need a place where our members can go and feel as though they have a home away from home," Tilling said. "So, if we can't secure a property, it will negatively impact our organization and dozens of women and non-binary folks." As an alternative to the houses the fraternities and sororities are currently renting, the university has suggested group accommodations within the university's residence system. However, Tilling said these options are not currently viable. "All of our different organizations have separate houses, and so to lump us all into a residence hall feels sort of dismissive," she said. "I think it would be a challenge for us to distinguish our organizations from one another and to maintain a unique group identity that make our community so special." Logan West, the vice-president student life at the University of Alberta Students' Union, said that the affected organizations were not consulted prior to the announcement of the decision. West said that responses from the groups have been varied. While some are in a better position because of their alumni networks, others have decided to shut down their chapters entirely or terminate their leases early. Both Tilling and West said that it's unclear what will happen to the houses once the fraternities and sororities move out. The university said in its statement that "no decisions have yet been made about the future of the houses." West said that the removal of these spaces will have a negative impact on the larger university community because of the role Greek organizations play on campus. "Greek life provides students with a really unique experience as it allocates an exclusive third space to them in a time where these spaces continue to diminish for young people." West said the organizations have been a part of campus life for years. "I think a lot of these houses have a history. If you've ever been in some of these houses, you can see all the alumni faces on the walls," West said. "It is definitely unfortunate, I would say. The groups have expressed that history is and that emotional attachment to those spaces is one of the hardest parts of dealing with this situation." Thaddeus Ma is the president of the interfraternal council and a general member of Pi Kappa Alpha. He told CBC News that the news blindsided his fraternity. "It was quite shocking, being that it was just an email dropped in our lap," Ma said. "There was no signs or anything like that to prepare us for this." Ma said that the news has brought the Greek organizations on campus closer together, even those not directly impacted. "Right now, it's a very stressful time for everyone because this affects operations, not just for seven of us, but the community as a whole," Ma said. "We all play our own part in the community and we do support each other. "I think we will get out of this. We will get out of this whole situation, but it will be a very stressful time for us."
CBC
13-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
U of A ending rental agreements with on-campus fraternities, sororities
Social Sharing The University of Alberta is ending its rental agreements with fraternities and sororities, including some organizations that have been on campus for decades. Alpha Gamma Delta, a fraternity at the University of Alberta, has rented their house for 29 years, using the space as a home for five members and as a community hub. But in late April, Alpha Gamma Delta and six other Greek life organizations were told that the university would be terminating their rental agreements with no chance of renewal. In a statement given to CBC News, the U of A said that "maintaining these older homes to a standard that meets the modern needs of today's students is not sustainable, given increasing costs and inflationary pressures." The university said 27 students would be affected by the decision. For most organizations, their final lease will end on August 31, 2026, the U of A said. Quinn Tilling, president of Alpha Gamma Delta, told Edmonton AM that the school's reasoning was "frustrating." "I lived in our house for the last semester of this previous year and I could count on one hand the number of times we had to request maintenance support from the university. I'm interested to see where the drain is coming from." Tilling said that finding alternative housing has been difficult because the fraternity needs a physical space for members to meet. "We need a place where our members can go and feel as though they have a home away from home," Tilling said. "So, if we can't secure a property, it will negatively impact our organization and dozens of women and non-binary folks." As an alternative to the houses the fraternities and sororities are currently renting, the university has suggested group accommodations within the university's residence system. However, Tilling said these options are not currently viable. "All of our different organizations have separate houses, and so to lump us all into a residence hall feels sort of dismissive," she said. "I think it would be a challenge for us to distinguish our organizations from one another and to maintain a unique group identity that make our community so special." Future of houses unclear Logan West, the vice-president student life at the University of Alberta Students' Union, said that the affected organizations were not consulted prior to the announcement of the decision. West said that responses from the groups have been varied. While some are in a better position because of their alumni networks, others have decided to shut down their chapters entirely or terminate their leases early. Both Tilling and West said that it's unclear what will happen to the houses once the fraternities and sororities move out. The university said in its statement that "no decisions have yet been made about the future of the houses." Some fraternities and sororities are being forced to pack their bags at the U of A 4 days ago Duration 1:41 West said that the removal of these spaces will have a negative impact on the larger university community because of the role Greek organizations play on campus. "Greek life provides students with a really unique experience as it allocates an exclusive third space to them in a time where these spaces continue to diminish for young people." West said the organizations have been a part of campus life for years. "I think a lot of these houses have a history. If you've ever been in some of these houses, you can see all the alumni faces on the walls," West said. "It is definitely unfortunate, I would say. The groups have expressed that history is and that emotional attachment to those spaces is one of the hardest parts of dealing with this situation." Thaddeus Ma is the president of the interfraternal council and a general member of Pi Kappa Alpha. He told CBC News that the news blindsided his fraternity. "It was quite shocking, being that it was just an email dropped in our lap," Ma said. "There was no signs or anything like that to prepare us for this." Ma said that the news has brought the Greek organizations on campus closer together, even those not directly impacted. "Right now, it's a very stressful time for everyone because this affects operations, not just for seven of us, but the community as a whole," Ma said. "We all play our own part in the community and we do support each other.
