Drug prohibition is fuelling the overdose crisis: Regulating drugs is the way out

“The reality of safe supply in B.C.” A MOment This is VANCOLOUR Thursdays at 9pm @CHEK_News 📺

Assistant RCMP Commissioner Brewer: “there is currently no evidence to support widespread diversion of Safer Supply drugs in the illicit market in BC or in Canada” Multiple claims made by Mr. Poilievre & Prem Danielle Smith have been shown to be false

"When we asked participants to envision an ideal model of safe supply," write researchers @jack_farrell1 & Sean O'Callaghan, "many described programs which ... directly align with DULF’s compassion club." @CANdrugpolicy https://t.co/rSBcvY8jQi

You closed an OPS

Looking forward to presenting with @spatrick_oc on results from ISS including: perspectives on community-driven research w/PWUD, barriers to medicalized safe supply, and the need for safe supply programs to center the needs and perspectives of PWUD . https://t.co/TfFyNK2lfI

The VPD arrest of @DULFBC founders is an act of political and moral cowardice. When law and policy is unjust, communities have no choice but to act. CDPC unequivocally asserts our support for DULF founders and their life-saving work.

The Vancouver police have arrested DULF and executed a search warrant on their office and homes. There will be a police press conference at 11:00 today.

Yesterday, Vancouver cops raided DULF & arrested two comrades for the heinous crime of saving lives. They won’t even let us try to save ourselves - they want us dead.

After one year of operating our heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine compassion club, we have analyzed our data and presented preliminary findings here.

"‘I've seen how my life drastically changed. And I have a job, I have an apartment, I have bills I pay for, I have a car. I have real-life responsibilities that I never had before. And all this is because the program I'm in’. (SR 11, Man)"

I have one question for everyone advocating for ending prescribed safer supply programs - what happens to the people who have been stabilized on a pharmaceutical supply of medications if these programs end? They end up back taking unregulated fentanyl, at high risk of OD death 🧵

This didn't need to happen. If government had rolled out prescription heroin 10 years ago, after NAOMI/SALMOE, we'd never have had fentanyl. If they'd rolled out real safe supply, we wouldn't have had benzo-dope. But they were cowards. Now we have tranqdope.

What is #ImagineSafeSupply? A 3 year research project that unveils the vision of a safe supply through inclusive research and collaboration with People Who Use Drugs and frontline workers. @xaliuqs_mcg @jack_farrell1 @spatrick_oc

Excited to introduce the incredible research team behind #ImagineSafeSupply! 🔬 From Jan to June '21, this community-based project interviewed 33 drug users & frontline heroes across BC, Alberta, Ontario, & Quebec to understand their wants and needs for a safer supply.

💥Dr. @GillianKolla @UVic_CISUR starts us off with an overview of safer supply models, why we need safer supply to address fentanyl toxicity + a review of the emerging evidence💡 🎯"We need more options for people who use drugs." @GillianKolla❤️‍🔥

New research published today in @CMAJ found that a program dispensing prescribed safer supply: - reduced drug-related harms - promoted positive outcomes incl reduced illicit drug use - decreased overdose risk - positive financial impacts - improvements in health and wellbeing

look at the range: 0.1% - >80% concentration of fentanyl. that's why people are dying. its the volatility and unpredictability of the unregulated supply. ITS THE SUPPLY. we need to regulate all drugs, like everything else. thats what governments are for. #bcpoli #SafeSupply

This is unacceptable and deeply concerning to hear about as a fellow graduate student in the Faculty of Health Sciences. I hope to see a prompt response from @SFU_FHS to support these students and address what has become an antagonistic learning environment.