🍉 Nurse Ranger 💊 Profile picture
Dec 3, 2022 5 tweets 4 min read Read on X
Death by Toxic Drug Policy in BC

179 British Columbians were killed by political indifference in October 2022

That’s nearly 6 people per day dying preventable deaths due to government inaction and cowardice.

#SafeSupply remains inaccessible.

#bcpoli #cdnpoli A infographic that highlights the following information ‘D
Year after year in so-called #Canada, we see more of our loved ones, friends, neighbours, and community members killed by a failure to address the volatility of the unregulated drug supply. ‘Bar graph showing increases in drug poisoning deaths in C
This is not a crisis of ‘opioids’ or ‘overdose’—people are being poisoned.

We are talking about drug regulation, consumer rights, and bodily autonomy.

@kwardvancouver says it best:
“We must replace the entire illicit drug supply with regulated substances accessible to all”
Models for #SafeSupply occur on a continuum that has not yet been fully realized or invested in.

The BC Gov would have you believe that we have a safe supply already but that is simply not true.

We will not escape this hellscape of preventable deaths without broader access. ‘The safe supply continuum includes clinical programmatic
We cannot become complacent in our attempts to stop drug poisoning deaths.

Our decision-makers, MLAs, + MPs all have power to enact/promote change NOW.

They are choosing not to make changes because they lack the political will. Do not let them forget.

#SafeSupply for all. “Tell your MLA that safe supply is not effective unless it

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More from @CoreyRanger

Oct 31
I’ve been reviewing the @bccoroners most recent report on unregulated drug poisoning deaths.

When I filtered expedited toxicology to only include 2024 results, I was shocked.

This is a mass poisoning situation. A crisis that can only be solved with legal regulation.

#bcpoli Substances detected in expedited toxicology among unregulated drug deaths.
This is not an opioid crisis or a fentanyl emergency—this most recent update shows four different benzodiazepine analogues being regularly detected in toxicology. Bromazolam alone is being found in 39% of unregulated drug deaths.
Couple this with variable concentrations of fentanyl + fentanyl analogues and we have a toxic mix with no quality control or predictability.

Benzodiazepines + opioids produce a synergism, profoundly increasing sedation and respiratory depression.
Read 8 tweets
Sep 16
A desperate campaign promise from a leader feeling the ground shrink beneath his feet.

A promise lacking proof. A callous approach touted as dignified.

Involuntary care won’t keep us safe. This new idea is an old failed idea.

🧵

#bcpoli #cdnpoli

cbc.ca/news/canada/br…
We’re going to cover a lot of ground in this 🧵 about involuntary care.

First, let’s acknowledge that today’s announcement was the opposite of novel or innovative.

Involuntary care has been implemented in many iterations and has shown to do more harm than good.
The concept of involuntary care, or forced treatment, is often flouted as compassionate. Coupled with weaponizing “public safety” language, people who use drugs are framed as incapable of making their own decisions and as dangers to the community at large.
Read 20 tweets
Aug 31
Driving home from #IOAD2024 event in #PortAlberni today and noticed someone slumped against a building with another person standing over them looking anxious.

I decided to pull over and check things out.

🧵

#bcpoli
When I arrived on scene I saw the person on the ground was motionless and the other person was calling 911.

I introduced myself and let her know I was a nurse, asked her if I could take over.

“Yes” she said nervously.
As I assessed, I explained to the bystander what I would be doing.

S - stands for stimulate
A - stands for airway
V - stands for ventilation
E - stands for evaluation

M - stands for medication (naloxone)
E - stands for evaluation
Read 11 tweets
Feb 1
Have you read this review of #SafeSupply from PHO Dr Bonnie Henry yet?

Here’s a 🧵 of my key takeaways.

#Bcpoli A review of prescribed safer supply programs across British Columbia: recommendations for future actions
Yes, the biggest takeaway is that prescribed safer supply is here to stay. Or at least that it should be.

And we are not going to call it that anymore. Dr. Henry has recommended the term now is “prescribed alternatives”
There’s a lot of unpack in this review but we now have the Provincial Health Officer and @bccoroners aligned on safe sup—prescribed alternatives.

✅it saves lives
✅it reduces harms
✅it improves life physical + mental health
✅we need improved access

www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/bir…
Read 18 tweets
Jan 11
📣NEW📣

Very important evaluation for #SafeSupply in BC

Effect of Risk Mitigation Guidance opioid and stimulant dispensation on mortality and acute care visits during dual public health emergencies: retrospective cohort study



#bcpolibmj.com/content/384/bm…
“This study found that RMG opioid dispensations were associated with a reduced likelihood of all cause and overdose related mortality among people with a diagnosis of opioid use disorder.”

This is a massive study of almost 12,000 people. Graphical depiction of the protection provided by at least one day of RMG dispensation. One graph shows reduction in all cause mortality and the other graph shows reduction in overdose mortality related to access to RMG.
“The protective effect of RMG opioid dispensations on mortality is congruent with findings from an evaluation of a prescribed opioid safer supply programme in Ontario in which mortality was rare among participants receiving medications”

cmaj.ca/content/194/36…
Read 9 tweets
Apr 17, 2023
Did you know?

1️⃣BC’s #SafeSupply is accessible to around 4,535 people

2️⃣BC has around 101,000 people who would qualify for an ‘opioid use disorder’ diagnosis

3️⃣That’s an accessibility rate of <5%

4️⃣It’s year 7 of this public health emergency

Source: news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/esc… A sweet graphic Corey made ...
That 101,000 doesn’t even include people who use episodically, recreationally, or first time users

Which makes that <5% estimate GENEROUS, at best

Meanwhile, the carnage worsens and the drug supply volatility kills our loved ones

#SafeSupply now

#bcpoli From January 1st to Decembe...
We act like BC has a viable and accessible #SafeSupply, but we don’t

The cons will say the streets are flooded with safe supply, but it isn’t

The BC Gov will say they are different from the callous Alberta government, but they aren’t

Alberta Model™️=BC Model™️ Freddy from scooby doo unma...
Read 4 tweets

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