5429 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

What are “high levels of fentanyl?” We have been told that a ridiculously small amount of fentanyl can kill a person. Carfentanil will kill if an amount the size of a grain of sugar of that stuff comes in contact with a person, we were also told.

[LJ]

Predictably disastrous policy in every conceivable way.

It was an idea that worked on paper in the safe confines of a university. It foolishly disregarded human nature, and the exploitative tendencies of people left to their own devices, absent of repercussions for their actions and no sense of or desire for social responsibility.

There were mountains of data to counter the argument of this policy. Independent researchers were ordered by the government to destroy decades of data that showed "safe supply" would never work. It became career suicide to express anyview point other than the company line. 

According to Dr. Julian Somers, many of Bonnie Henry's colleagues, employed in the civil service started up safe supply drug companies and got quite wealthy from the policy.

 

Terrific interview with him on the Simi Sara show this morning.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Surrey Union of Drug Users (SUDU) is “disappointed but not surprised” by Wednesday’s announcement from the B.C. Ministry of Health to end the decriminalization pilot. 

 

“We shame the government for choosing to further isolate drug users and increase the likelihood of drug poisoning in the community,” SUDU said in a press release Friday (Jan. 16).  Decriminalization began in January of 2023, allowing people to possess small amounts of illicit drugs in certain places without fear of arrest.

 

Initially, the program included drug possession and consumption in both public and private spaces, but that was changed a year later to exclude public use after backlash.

 

 

 

Read more at: https://surreynowlea...riminalization/

 

 

 

 

Advocates felt that the pilot project was set up to fail as the possession limit was “set far lower than what was advocated for by people who use drugs and their allies,” SUDU said in a press release Friday (Jan. 16).

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 January 2026 - 09:09 PM.

[Mike K.]

Initially, the program included drug possession and consumption in both public and private spaces, but that was changed a year later to exclude public use after backlash.

That genie never went back into the bottle. Allowing drug use in public virtually everywhere was probably what turned the tide against this government’s agenda in a major way. Suddenly the left-wing, progressive mom was picking up crack pipes at her kid’s playground, and the family dog was overdosing from a fentanyl ingestion after finding something on the ground during a walk in the park.

This went so bad, so fast, that Canada refused to allow other jurisdictions in the country to follow BC’s path. And remember, this was all under the guidance and advice of top experts who said they knew what they were doing.

[Victoria Watcher]

This went so bad, so fast, that Canada refused to allow other jurisdictions in the country to follow BC’s path. 

 

 

Correct.  2023:

 

 

 

Toronto updated its 14-month-old decriminalization request to the federal government Friday, clarifying it wants a Health Canada exemption to cover young people as well as adults, and all drugs for personal use.

 

The city’s submission, an update to its initial January 2022 request, indicates Toronto wants the federal agency to go further than the exemption it recently granted to British Columbia under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

 

It makes clear the city wants its exemption to apply to all drugs for personal use and shield young people from criminalization, a departure from the B.C. exemption, which only applies to adults and lists a select number of substances.

 

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa says the submission sent to Health Canada, co-signed by the city’s police chief and city manager, is a “made-in-Toronto” model reflective of a months-long consultation process.

 

https://globalnews.c...riminslization/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 January 2026 - 09:40 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

VicPD chief says police have clear authority to stop public drug use

“Our officers understand they no longer have to keep walking past somebody who’s smoking fentanyl on the sidewalk,” says police chief Fiona Wilson.

https://www.timescol...ug-use-11750597

[Mike K.]

Some bad sheds are circulating, which don’t respond well to naloxone.

VicPD:

VicPD and health officials warn of increased overdoses linked to medetomidine, a veterinary sedative now found mixed with opioids like fentanyl. Victoria has seen 15 non-fatal overdoses in the past 24 hours. Medetomidine can cause prolonged unconsciousness and may not fully respond to naloxone, complicating emergency response. In several recent cases, naloxone kits were used but did not have their usual effect.

If you see someone in medical distress, please call 911 immediately.

This community update is being shared to support community safety and awareness. VicPD will continue to provide information as it becomes available.

[Victoria Watcher]

Island Health is urging opioid users to visit overdose-prevention sites or to get their drugs checked at harm reduction facilities at 1802 Cook St. in Victoria and locations in Port Alberni, Campbell River, Comox Valley, Duncan and Port Hardy.

 

The Centre for Disease Control said even if the overdose does not cause death, it can cause brain injuries due to a lack of oxygen.

 

Medetomidine has been turning up in samples believed to be fentanyl that were collected by Substance, the free, confidential drug-checking service with a storefront at 1802 Cook St. in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-vicpd-11809307

 

 

 

Another way to avoid brain injury and death is DO NOT DO STREET DRUGS.     

[Victoria Watcher]

On the final day of the pilot, harm reduction and recovery advocate Guy Felicella says “it’s really unfortunate.”

 

Felicella, who has lived experience with addiction, says the pilot project was accomplishing what it was meant to do: not arrest people in possession of small substances.

 

He calls the province’s latest move a step backwards in addressing the overdose crisis.

 

“Unfortunately going back to something that we already know doesn’t work doesn’t make sense to me and I think we are going to see similar challenges with people being arrested again, and again, and again and then the revolving door of the criminal justice system,” Felicella said.

 

He says the criminal cycle, where someone is arrested and then released back to the streets, is a hard one to break.

 

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...roject-1302982/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 February 2026 - 07:07 AM.

[LJ]

He says the criminal cycle, where someone is arrested and then released back to the streets, is a hard one to break.

 

Then don't release them back to the street; problem solved. You're welcome.