RT @GillianKolla: I hesitate to comment before official details are announced, but Minister of Health Sylvia Jones seems poised to announce….

RT @JenStDen: We fact-checked four claims about overdose deaths. This will be a regular feature at @thetyee over the next months, so let….

RT @CPHA_ACSP: This policy statement provides an overview of what CPHA endorses as a public health approach to substance use across the ful….

RT @drugpolicyctr: 📉Overdose mortality rates decline in areas w/ supervised consumption sites, which also prevent #overdose through access….

My recent piece on illicit #SusbtanceUse, challenging an 'us vs. them' narrative and false stereotypes about people who use illicit #drugs. Let’s not approach illicit substance use with judgement and contempt but with compassionate curiosity and care.

"It’s important to note that AI can assist in providing information and ideas, but the human ability to empathize, use intuition, think creatively, make complex decisions and contextual understanding are unique.".AI - great #eval assist but not replacement.

“There’s no such thing as ‘#naloxone-resistant opioids’ or ‘naloxone-resistant #fentanyl’ ”. It's likely fentanyl mixed with benzos or other non-opioid substances. #HarmReduction #SubstanceUse.

There's a good nuance here that while #DrugUse shouldn't be glamorized, #PWUD should be treated with compassion & respect. But the author's call to stigmatize drug use is based on correlative metrics & oversimplified examples of tobacco and #HarmReduction.

Eligibility for the CES-CESEF TSEEK Award is now open to emerging evaluators who have entered the field of #evaluation in the last 5 years! .Great opportunity for students and those early in #eval careers. @evalyouth_na @SEEN_BC @CES_casecomp .

Not to mention that the BC’s Chief Coroner has found no indication of increasing safer supply substances in drug toxicity deaths.

The letter says these programs are "providing essentially unlimited amounts of #opioids to vulnerable people with #addiction.".Right, because hydromorph was so scarce before #SaferSupply programs. 🙄 When was the opioid supply not essentially unlimited?.

It's International Overdose Awareness Day! With BC still recording record high drug toxicity deaths, this is still a huge issue that needs more attention. Retweeting last year's post because lots of the content is still relevant. #EndOverdose #StopTheStigma #IOAD2023.

Link to the dataset for those who are interested:

Most Nova Scotians who die from substance use pass away in their own homes. About two thirds are reported to be alone at time of death. #SubstanceUse must be addressed with compassion and care so that people feel they can be more open about their use. #SupportNotStigma #overdose

In 2023 so far, #fentanyl samples tested by Toronto's Drug Checking Service have contained fluorofentanyl (40%), bromazolam (38%), and xylazine (13%). This is why better access to a safer drug supply is needed. #SafeSupply #HarmReduction

RT @CANdrugpolicy: In September 2022, @Stimulus2023 hosted an empowering community event that celebrated the voices and resilience of the p….

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Law enforcement efforts to disrupt the local drug market were associated with increased overdose events in the communi….

The full plan:

Their plan includes some potentially helpful efforts, but also considers making xylazine a scheduled substance. The ineffectiveness and harms of criminalizing substances (i.e., the #WarOnDrugs) are too well-evidenced to continue relying on this approach. #DrugPolicy #SubstanceUse.

Huge shout out to @Ference_Co!.It was great talking to the wonderful Ference & Company team members at #EvalC2023, and I'm super excited to have won their basket draw! .This weekend will now include some good reads with plenty of treats at hand 😋