Miramichi AIDS NB/ SIDA NB

05/22/2026

If you know anyone aged 18 -30 yrs looking for some experience working for a community health organization we have 2 Canada Summer Job positions right now.😀
One in Bathurst and one in Miramichi. you can check out the details on Job Bank or on our website.

05/13/2026

Did you know HCV transmission does not occur randomly. It follows predictable patterns based on the infrastructure of prevention tools, healthcare access or lack thereof, and social supports.​
In Canada, approximately 85% of new HCV infections occur through sharing or reuse of drug-use equipment.
This statistic is often used to describe who is at risk, but it is more useful for understanding where prevention systems are failing people.
Research increasingly shows that HCV risk is shaped not only by individual behaviours but by broader economic, social, and policy environments that influence access to safer drug use equipment, healthcare, and stable living conditions.
Reinfection is part of this same picture. When HCV continues to circulate within a community environment, people can be exposed again even after successful treatment.

Action Hepatitis Canada's 2026 progress report is available today!

Find the report here: https://www.actionhepatitiscanada.ca/rethinkingprevention.html

In Canada, hepatitis C continues to disproportionately affect people who use drugs, particularly those navigating unstable housing, criminalization, and other systemic barriers to care. These patterns are not solely indicative of individual behaviour; they are a direct reflection of environments that either offer or deny access to prevention, treatment, support, and care.

When the focus stays on populations rather than environments, the conditions that shape HCV transmission risk can remain invisible.

Closing the elimination gap will require strengthening prevention, testing, treatment, and care in the environments where transmission is occurring, not just identifying the populations most affected.

05/07/2026

Today is International Harm Reduction Day.

When it comes to harm reduction stigma matters
People who use drugs, especially those struggling with addiction face discrimination and barriers to getting help.

Stigma can:
• lead a person to avoid getting help because they are afraid of judgement or getting in trouble with work,
their loved ones or even the law
• cause a person to hide their drug use or use drugs alone
• affect a person’s ability to find housing and jobs, which affects their health and quality of life
• contribute to people who use drugs receiving a lower quality of care from the healthcare system when they access services.

Changing how you talk about drug use
The language you use has a direct and deep impact on people around you. You can reduce stigma by changing the words you
use to talk about drug use. Using kind words can make it easier for someone to speak up, to feel understood or to receive help.
• Use person-first language, for example say ‘person who uses drugs’ instead of ‘drug user’
• Use neutral, medically accurate words when describing drug use.

Remember we are here to provide you with safe drug and s*x supplies, education and training. Reach out to see how we can support you.

05/05/2026

What is the picture of the person that pops into your mind when you think of substance use. We bet its not a teacher, construction worker, your manager !
People turn to substances for many different reasons.

Personal Impacts of Substance Use: Workplaces https://ow.ly/CtT950YPoMC

Workplace stress contributes to substance use including alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal substances. High-pressure jobs, long hours and toxic work environments can push employees toward unhealthy coping mechanisms, creating a vicious cycle that harms both people and organizations. Employers can invest in and foster healthier workplaces, and employees deserve stigma-free support when dealing with their substance use health.

05/05/2026

This year’s symposium, “It’s Time to Listen,” is about ending stigma and elevate the voices of people with lived experience. We will provide a platform from people who use substances, their families, and those who support them. They will share their struggles, strength, and success stories.

We will highlight voices from Indigenous communities and talk about the need for better in-patient policies to support people in care. We will also share stories that put a human face on this crisis and show how outreach programs are bringing health care to people who face unfair health gaps.

We recognize the people affected by substance use and the workers who help reduce harm and save lives.

Substance use disorder is a health issue—not a moral failure. Laws and health policies must reflect this. Harm reduction should be a top priority for the public, leaders, and health workers. We need better public education, stronger health care training, teamwork across professions, and creative community programs. It’s time to work together and build a more connected and caring system.
You will hear about real programs that reduce stigma and make a difference—from grassroots efforts to team-based care models. These examples show what is possible when harm reduction is at the center of care. Let’s create real change together, where harm reduction is a foundation of care for everyone.

The event is free. Donations are welcome and will go to local harm reduction projects in New Brunswick through Avenue B Inc. The event will offer English and French closed captioning.

05/05/2026

Our team in Fredericton run a mobile service and have just added a new route, First Tuesday of the month. Send them a text if you live in those areas and need supplies😀

We're delivering in Minto, Chipman, Doaktown, and Boiestown tomorrow! If you want us to stop by, give us a call today!

04/27/2026

Come and see what we get up to and share on Social Media.
Based in our Miramichi office😀

04/27/2026

04/24/2026

Our Education Coordinator is highlighting some of the Participatory Action Research we do at the Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research this week.
Safe travels Heather.

Good luck and safe travels to Heather, our Education Coordinator, this week!

She will be presenting a poster at highlighting work to bridge HIV care access gaps for structurally excluded patients in New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick.

This is one of many Participatory Action Research projects at AIDS New Brunswick, focused on collaboration and community-driven approaches to reducing stigma, improving access to care, and addressing the social determinants of health for people living with HIV and people who use drugs.

Last year, we presented two posters: one on “Expanding Access to Harm Reduction Supplies in Underserved and Rural Communities” and another on “Findings from Consultations with People Living with HIV Regarding Socio-emotional Support in New Brunswick.”

This work gives our team the opportunity to bring together research, education, and action—with participants actively involved in defining problems, collecting data, and implementing solutions—helping to create more responsive services and programs.

Big thank you to everyone involved😀