Supporting Substance Use Care Away From HomeSupporting Substance Use Care Away From Home
Addiction Practice Pod
Health-care providers and a peer advocate share how substance use treatment is arranged when people must leave rural and remote communities, highlighting logistical hurdles, cultural needs and practical ways to keep patients safe and connected. The conversation focuses on teamwork among doctors, pharmacists and peers so that even in remote settings, people are never truly alone in their care.
45:48•27 Oct 2026
Never Remote Enough to Be Alone: Substance Use Care Far From Home
Episode Overview
- Safe travel for substance use care needs early planning, including extra medication, contingency plans for delays, and clear communication with the receiving team.
- Opioid agonist therapy during time away from home requires careful pharmacy selection, daily access arrangements, and honest discussion with patients about what feels safe.
- Culturally grounded care, including family involvement, language support, elders and land-based approaches, can reduce additional trauma when people leave their communities.
- Simple tools like printed medication lists, contact details and a single binder for documents help patients and clinicians manage complex care transitions.
- Peer advocates and clinicians who "listen to hear, not respond" can bridge urban–rural gaps and reduce the risk that people give up on treatment when systems fail them.
“I would say that, especially when you're remote, you're never remote enough to be alone. You're never working alone.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation from Addiction Practice Pod focuses on the tricky reality of needing substance use care far away from home, especially in rural and remote communities. You’ll hear how primary care, pharmacy, and peer support all try to keep people safe when treatment means planes, long drives, and time away from family and culture. Dr.
Pier-Maud Lanteigne, a family doctor in Iqaluit, describes sending high‑risk patients south for supervised withdrawal and follow‑up treatment, while juggling flight delays, limited detox options, and complex opioid agonist therapy arrangements. Her line, “You’re never remote enough to be alone. You’re never working alone,” captures her approach of constant teamwork and honest, transparent communication with patients. Pharmacist Dr.
Mona Kwong then talks about running a “small‑town pharmacy in the middle of big downtown” Vancouver and how much practical planning goes into travel for treatment: time zones, airport security, temperature changes, lost luggage, and finding a pharmacy that’s actually walkable and open when people need it. She highlights simple but vital tips, like giving patients printed prescriptions and contact details, and helping them create a single binder so their medication information doesn’t get lost in the chaos.
Finally, peer advocate Sean Wood shares lived experience from northern BC and nearby reserves, describing how gaps in services, rigid transport schedules, and urban‑centred models can lead to people giving up or even death. He stresses land‑based wellness, traditional healing, and peers who can "listen to hear, not respond" and bridge the language between communities and clinicians.
If you’re supporting people who use substances outside big cities—or thinking about how travel affects care—this episode offers practical ideas and heartfelt reminders that no one should have to choose between their community and their safety. How might you strengthen the links in your own system so people are truly never alone?
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