Drug decriminalization: The importance of policy change for the health and wellbeing of children and youth in Canada.

The criminalization of drug use and possession has demonstrable harms on the health of children and youth, with disproportionate effects on Black people, Indigenous people, people from other racially oppressed communities, and people living in poverty. Drug decriminalization, by separating personal possession and use of drugs from the criminal justice system, allows for a health-based approach to drug policy. Paediatricians are well-positioned to advocate for policies within a decriminalization framework to prioritize the physical and mental health of children and youth.

Caregiver's Perspectives on the Healthcare Experiences of Children With Behaviour-Related Disorders.

Objective: Social Pediatrics focuses on targeting and mitigating the effects of the social determinants of health on a child's well-being and development. Negative health outcomes have been seen in children who have faced poverty, food insecurity, inadequate housing, and traumatic events. In particular, children who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged households are more likely to develop behavioural problems.

Dexamethasone for the treatment of established postoperative nausea and vomiting: A randomised dose finding trial.

Background: Dexamethasone is widely used for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) but little is known about its efficacy for the treatment of established PONV.

Objective: To test the antiemetic efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone for the treatment of established PONV in adults undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia and to determine whether there is dose-responsiveness.

Design: The DexPonv trial is a multicentre, placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, dose-finding study.

An Evaluation of Hepatitis C Screening in Infants and Children Born to Seropositive Mothers in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Background: The primary route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children is vertical transmission, from mother to fetus in utero. There is a lack of data on the prevalence of pediatric HCV acquired through vertical transmission in Saint John, New Brunswick. Furthermore, what risk factors may be associated with an increased likelihood for a child born to an HCV-seropositive mother should be known to direct screening practices.