5167 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

...it doesn't take long before a user suffers mentally, at which point they are not equipped to make the best decisions for themselves...

And yet we still treat them as though they have this ability. Our treatment of the mentally ill, regardless of the cause, is shameful.

[Victoria Watcher]

Canada's poorest residents more vulnerable to opioid-related harm, study finds

A new study has revealed a connection between a Canadian's socio-economic status and their susceptibility to opioid-related harm.

https://www.timescol...y-finds-5533538

A new study by the University of Waterloo found that between 2000 and 2017, low-income Canadians were almost four times more likely to die of opioid-related causes than high-income Canadians.

________

"Often, we see low socio-economic status in concentrated geographic areas where there is poorer access to resources,” Alsabbagh said.

“In addition, psycho-social factors, such as feeling marginalized or enduring discrimination and social isolation, can have an effect.”





It also might be people with lower intelligence are both poor, and more apt to do drugs.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 July 2022 - 02:10 PM.

[Barrrister]

Or people who are drug user are less likely to hold down a job/

[Belleprincess]

Portugal reduced drug use by 75%, but they also don't encourage hard drug use like we do.

Our policy is to let those that can't look after themselves chose for themselves. We also ban institutions. Of course things are going to get worse.

Our "new" policy and the institutions that promote it, encourage opioid use. What comes with opioid use? Addiction. What comes with addiction? Overdoses. Regardless of how much money we throw at safe sites and free drugs, we will all be standing around in 5 years in disbelief, wondering why overdoses have become so much worse than today.

But we are going to do it anyways because we have all become incredibly stupid.

I’ve always wonder why we don’t just follow Portugal’s lead. They’ve had so much success. Is it the desire to waste money on things that aren’t working? Is it stubbornness? Makes no sense to me

[Barrrister]

Belle: When something appears not to make sense it is often wise to follow the money. This has become a political jobs for the troops program. 

Last thing they want is to drastically reduce drug addition. It would put them out of work. Doing a lot of what does not work but that comes with a lot of jobs is exactly what the politicians want. 

[phx]

I’ve always wonder why we don’t just follow Portugal’s lead. They’ve had so much success. 

 

The precedent has been set that the government can impose medical treatment during a health emergency.

 

If anyone has forgotten, the drug overdose crisis was declared an emergency years ago.

[Victoria Watcher]

‘We need more help’: Advocates call for safe drug supply as premiers meet in Victoria

 

 

It was a few days before Christmas in 2018, and Jan Mahoney was trying to get a hold of her 21-year-old son, Michael. 

 

He’d been trying to access specialized support in Burnaby—a long trip from Victoria, but the best option to address both his opioid use and mental health challenges, Jan says. For two months, Mahoney waited for an opening for her son. By the time Michael made it onto the waitlist, she recalls, it was too late. He died of an overdose the next day.

 

“His body sat in his truck for five days while we frantically looked everywhere for him,” she told Capital Daily.

 

When they found his truck at the lower Wharf Street parking lot, it had two parking tickets on the dashboard. Nobody had noticed him.

 

“People just walked by,” she said.

 

 

 

https://www.capitald...eet-in-victoria

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 July 2022 - 06:06 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Some argue the threshold is set too low and doesn’t account for the lifespan of current street drugs. Others caution it leaves too much discretionary responsibility—and power—with police.

 

“Decrim won’t solve the problem. It’s such a small amount,” Anthrobus says. “It’s the poisoned supply [that needs fixing] … There’s been 15-year-old girls in Victoria dying. It’s just not right.” 

 

Dave Connell would like to see BC lift its decriminalization threshold. He calls the province’s efforts “baby steps in the right direction,” but argues more could still be done. Connell’s grandson, Darren, died of fentanyl poisoning at 27.

 

 

 

On the flip side, doesn't the potential danger of street drugs now actually prevent some/may from using them it in the first place?  If we have a regulated "safe supply" more people are likely to indulge.  I certainly know a few people that used to use drugs in the past, but now will not use them with the potential for death.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 July 2022 - 06:09 AM.

[Nparker]

"Safe" drugs will never solve the problem of addiction. Haven't we been told for years it was the over prescribing of opioids by medical professionals that lead to the current situation?

[aastra]

 

Haven't we been told for years...

 

We've been told no end of different things for decades. All of these prolonged and/or sustained crises are built on ever shifting sand.

[spanky123]

On the flip side, doesn't the potential danger of street drugs now actually prevent some/may from using them it in the first place?  If we have a regulated "safe supply" more people are likely to indulge.  I certainly know a few people that used to use drugs in the past, but now will not use them with the potential for death.

 

 

Maybe that is the real issue. Perhaps the elite don't want to be at risk of a drug bust for their coke consumption. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Overdose deaths for May reach new heights in B.C., says chief coroner

https://www.cheknews...oroner-1060134/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 July 2022 - 12:20 PM.

[Mike K.]

Presser:

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service’s report on illicit drug toxicity deaths for May 2022:

“A devastating 195 people lost their lives to the poisoned drug supply in May. I’m grateful to everyone on the front lines of this public health crisis for their extraordinary efforts. Without them, B.C. would have lost more lives.

“The early months of 2022 saw a decrease in toxic drug deaths, but despite unprecedented work to turn the tide on the crisis, this trend tragically did not continue in May.

“Six people a day are dying due to the toxic drug crisis in this province and it’s nothing short of tragic. But it’s the reason we must persevere and continue the vital work of reducing the risk of toxic drug poisonings and saving lives.

“Part of that work includes building a comprehensive and seamless continuum of mental health and addictions care that works for all British Columbians. Our government is urgently working to build and fund that system – a system that includes treatment and recovery options in every part of B.C., such as the new sobering and assessment centre in Prince George, which will open in the fall, and the new Rapid Access to Addiction Care Clinic that just opened in Abbotsford.

“We are deepening our investment in people and innovative solutions to turn this crisis around, such as leading the country on prescribed safe supply and decriminalizing people who use drugs. We know there is much more to do, and we won’t stop working until we finally put an end to this terrible crisis.”

[Mike K.]

Can we say that people are “all” dying from a “toxic” supply? Overdoses can happen with a clean supply.

[Nparker]

...We are deepening our investment in people and innovative solutions to turn this crisis around, such as leading the country on prescribed safe supply and decriminalizing people who use drugs...

I have yet to see any evidence that decriminalizing street drugs saves lives or ends addiction.

[On the Level]

Messages on twitter state that Chrissy Brett has passed from a drug overdose.

 

 

[Nparker]

If true, I offer my condolences to her family and friends, but the world won't be a worse place without her particular brand of activism.

[On the Level]

If true, I offer my condolences to her family and friends, but the world won't be a worse place without her particular brand of activism.

 

My thoughts as well.  Sad news with everyone hoping we can figure our way out of the addiction issue.  

[Nparker]

The message I am getting is that more drugs will get us out of this mess, and it will happen faster if tax dollars pay for those drugs.

[On the Level]

^ True.  That and Heroin is a "clean" drug.  Of course what they fail to mention is how our current problem was created by doctors overprescribing "clean" opioids, getting their patients addicted.  Now we have UBC doubling down on the message that taking drugs like opioids are OK and that you aren't at risk of dying from your "clean" drug.