1/5) Overdoses are taking the lives of 6 people everyday in BC, more than any other time on record. In July, 184 people died because of our toxic drug supply. More than 1,200 people this year - gone.
(A thread)
2/5) We're losing people in the prime of their lives. In 2021, 72% of those dying were aged 30 to 59. Males accounted for 79% of deaths in 2021. An entire generation is being lost 💔
3/5) People are dying EVERYWHERE. Don't let anyone fool you into believing that this is an inner-city issue or a downtown east side problem. Inequity, marginalization, and isolation are putting people in vulnerable positions across the province and they're dying as a result.
4/5) Extreme fentanyl concentration is fueling drug deaths in Vancouver Elsewhere, it's utter lack of services to support PWUD. What happens when the drug supply becomes even more toxic in places like Northern health, which already has nearly as many deaths per 100k as Vancouver?
5/5) Losing so many people is heartbreaking & sickening. What makes this report even harder to digest is that these deaths aren't just preventable, they’re sadly predictable. #EndOverdose#harmreduction#cdnpoli#bcpoli
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What jumps out most to me about this interview he did with fawning right-wing extremist @jordanbpeterson: they clearly lay out the way they’re stirring up rage with “carefully calculated campaign slogans” & then capitalizing on people’s anger over it (especially young men’s) 2/9
Pierre says before every speaking engagement his team analyzes mainstream, ethnic & independent media, downloads all the local social commentary, and THEN decides what the topic of the day will be based on what people are mad about.
3/9
BC CORONER:
1/6) In March 2021, there were 158 illicit drug toxicity deaths. This represents a 41% increase over the number of deaths occurring in March 2020 (112)
March 2021= 5.1 deaths per day. (a thread)
#2) Carfentanil has been detected in 65 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2020 & 48 deaths in 2021 (18 in March)
#3) Among the drug types involved in completed illicit drug toxicity death investigations, illicit fentanyl has increased from 5% in 2012 to 86% in 2020.
1/1: July 1st marks the anniversary of the British North America act of 1867 and the establishment of the Dominion of Canada. The signing of the act followed centuries of colonialism, oppression and genocide of Indigenous Peoples on these lands. (thread)
2/2: Colonialism and systemic racism in Canada are not just part of our past, but part of our present as well. There is a through line in our history connecting settlement to enslavement , head taxes, internment camps, immigration policies, and police brutality.
3/3: Colonialism and racism remain embedded in the legal, political, health, and economic context of Canada today. It is important for each of us to reflect , learn and acknowledge this history
1/6: Talking to PWUD and prescribers over the past few weeks I've learned there's a huge disconnect between #safesupply and what we can call pandemic prescribing
(a thread)
2/6: Pandemic prescribing is providing pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs to help reduce #overdose risk and let people isolate during #COVID. It's a life saving approach now, but it's not the long-term solution to the overdose crisis, #Safesupply is.
3/6: Offering drug users the least sought-after drugs through pandemic prescribing is playing it as safe as possible, it's the equivalent of providing an alcoholic with light beer when what they've been consuming is 40 proof liquor. It's not #Safesupply
Tweet 1: " Many people ask me why someone on opioid against #treatment (OAT) to manage their #addiction would still use heroin at the same time. It comes down to what fuels on individuals addiction (a thread)"
Tweet 2: "2/ First, you have to understand why someone might start using #opioids or other drugs in the first place. For me, I started using heroin to deal with deep-rooted trauma that was causing me incredible emotional pain"
Tweet:3 "3/ Soon I had to keep using heroin regularly to stave off the debilitating withdrawal from not using. So I was using heroin for two reasons: to manage trauma and to manage withdrawal"