Media Advisory - Providence Health Care and Pivot Legal Society Announce Joint Action in Response to Canadian Government Decision Impacting Heroin Addiction Treatment

VANCOUVER, Nov. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - On Wednesday, November 13, Providence Health Care (PHC) will hold a news conference in partnership with Pivot Legal Society to present their joint response to a recent regulatory change by the Canadian government that curtailed special access to heroin-addiction treatment for patients.

The event will include senior representatives from the two organizations, addictions physicians, researchers and patients from PHC's SALOME (the Study to Assess Longer-term Opioid Medication) initiative. SALOME is a clinical study that tests alternative treatments for people with chronic heroin addiction who are not benefiting sufficiently from available treatments such as oral methadone.

Background materials and b-roll will also be made available at the press conference.

What:	News Conference Responding to Canadian Government Regulation Decision
When:	Wednesday, November 13, 2013; 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Where:	St. Paul's Hospital, Room 1500, UBC Lecture Theatre
	Media please meet communications staff at 9:15 a.m. at the information desk just inside the Burrard Street entrance for an escort to the room
	Out of town media can listen to the conference by dialing 1-877-385-4099 and entering participant code: 2034359#

Providence Health Care (PHC) is one of Canada's largest faith-based health care organizations, operating 16 health care facilities in Greater Vancouver. PHC operates one of two adult academic health science centres in the province - St. Paul's Hospital - performs cutting-edge research in more than 30 clinical specialties, and focuses its services on six "populations of emphasis": cardio-pulmonary risks and illnesses, HIV/AIDS, mental health, renal risks and illness, specialized needs in aging and urban health and is home to the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. www.providencehealthcare.org

Pivot Legal Society is a Vancouver Downtown Eastside-based non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of marginalized communities and persons across Canada through strategic litigation. Pivot's mandate is to use the law to address the root causes of poverty and social exclusion. http://www.pivotlegal.org/

SOURCE: Providence Healthcare

Dave Lefebvre
Senior Communications Specialist - Media Relations
Providence Health Care
[email protected]
604-682-2344 xt.66987
Cell: 604-837-6003
Media Pager: 604-686-9983 (after hours & weekends)

Scott Bernstein
Lawyer, Pivot Legal Society
[email protected]
Cell: 778-228-2992