In Canada, many of our Supervised Consumption Sites and Overdose Prevention Sites are now under attack by Conservative governments, in spite of the lives they save.A bright red rose. A feather. A child’s hand outlined in blue. Dozens of names — full names, first names, nicknames, initials. Messages written on paper diamonds in careful script; in crayon scribbles:“Forever in our hearts.” “#1 Dad.” “Brother.” “Love and miss you forever.”Birthdays. Death days.Laid out on purple canvas in front of Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon, the community memorial star blanket filled up quickly, each diamond in the pattern paying tribute to a loved one who died from overdose.When the International Overdose Awareness Day gathering began on Saturday morning, the plan had been to fill the canvas with 72 diamonds. Less than two hours in, organizers were quickly cutting their remaining blank tiles into quarters, so the memorial wouldn’t run out of space.“It’s hard, as someone who has had some family history with addiction, to see so many names in such a short amount of time,” said lead artist Kamisha Alexson. “It’s eye-opening.“But it’s empowering, too, to see how people honour those who have passed on: There’s no shame, no guilt, no anger or resentment. Just something beautiful.”...
"Poilievre’s referring to these sites as “drug dens” is callous and deceptive. These sites offer a lifeline to those struggling with substance use." #expertise #factsvspopulism #DougFord https://t.co/igRBhW87MZ
— Stephen Tustin (@stustin) August 31, 2024
Doug Ford: "I've received endless phone calls about needles being in parks+schools."
— Ben Thomson 🇵🇸 (@BenNephrology) August 30, 2024
Best evidence shows opening a SCS leads to:
1. Less improper syringe disposal in public places +
2. Decreased public drug usehttps://t.co/WbcmYWl6Ok
2/ @HarmReduction @HIVlegal
There are multiple other proven benefits of SCSs:
— Ben Thomson 🇵🇸 (@BenNephrology) August 30, 2024
1. "Significant reductions in opioid overdose"
2. "Significant improvements in access to addiction treatment programs"https://t.co/6gFPZk6MY8
4/ @OntariosDoctors @HPAP_Ontario @NSS_CoP
In Canada, provinces/territories must apply for exemption from the Controlled Drugs+Substances Act (subsection 56-1) for Minister of Health to set up SCS. This makes SCSs vulnerable to provincial political interference.https://t.co/aOOPXjyi5r
— Ben Thomson 🇵🇸 (@BenNephrology) August 30, 2024
6/@JustinTrudeau @fordnation
Similarly, Alberta's United Conservative Party froze funding for SCS in 2019. This was despite wide-ranging Canadian support for harm reduction measures:https://t.co/xlblTs2xBH
— Ben Thomson 🇵🇸 (@BenNephrology) August 30, 2024
8/ @YourAlberta @PierrePoilievre @jkenney
As a public health measure, safe consumption sites are a no brainer:
— Ben Thomson 🇵🇸 (@BenNephrology) August 30, 2024
1. Save lives
2. Save money
3. Improve safety of communities
4. Don't increase crime
A National SCS Policy is long overdue- federally mandate SCS as essential medical service @NDP @liberal_party @CPC_HQ
End🧵
This is a really lame straw man but since ignorant people always make the exact same arguments without bothering to learn anything themselves, let me once again share that we actually do have a regulated safe supply for coffee and practice harm reduction for caffeine as a society https://t.co/djvQclPLU3 pic.twitter.com/fn7x9JoLBI
— Ryan Marino, MD (@RyanMarino) July 16, 2024
I just want people to understand that despite all the right-wing propaganda, literally NO ONE has died of an overdose at a safe consumption site in Canada because they do exactly what they're supposed to do - prevent overdose deaths.
— Sam Hersh (@SamHersh01) August 20, 2024
Without them, people will die. pic.twitter.com/RtPK3xwSFW
2 comments:
According to the G&M, ol' Dougie used to deal out of the trunk of his car back in the day, so let's assume some expertise in private sector drug supply. Why would he want the public sector horning into the business with a safe supply?! When Doug Ford does something, you can bet it's on behalf of his rich buddies.
Here and in Alberta, they seem to be focusing on funding private "rehab treatment" clinics which charge mucho $$$ for treatments.
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