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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Health Canada ignored expert advice to expand access to safe drugs for opioid users, internal documents show (CBC)

... over several weeks, Felix allowed journalists from the fifth estate inside their life to help understand the impact a safe drug supply had for someone addicted to illicit drugs — and how that changed when their access to that supply was cut off in 2023 and they turned to fentanyl to stave off withdrawal symptoms.

The fifth estate obtained internal Health Canada reports that reveal the federal government was advised by its own experts to expand access to a greater range of safe and regulated drugs for people across Canada but that instead, at the height of the opioid overdose crisis, the government’s support for safe supply programs was watered down and eventually ended in March ...

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  1. ALLinBC — Zero-Cost Community Upgrade

    BC already hands out naloxone kits (1,900+ sites, 398K kits shipped, 40K+ overdoses reversed). #ALLinBC builds on this:

    How it works:
    1️⃣ Return & Refill Kits — bring back used kits, get a free refill + quick training. Cuts litter, saves money, and keeps supplies flowing.
    2️⃣ Drug Info Sheet — one recycled sheet inside every kit with real warnings:

    Opioids → brain damage, 90% fatality/organ risk in 10 yrs

    Stimulants → heart attack/cancer risk +50% in 1 yr

    Sharing gear → HIV/Hep C risk 65%

    Support & Help Numbers

    Crisis/Kids Help: 1-800-668-6868

    Detox (ConnexOntario): 1-866-531-2600

    Rehab (iRecover): 1-877-387-4155

    Tobacco Quit: STOPProgram.ca

    3️⃣ Incentives — food vouchers or program credits for returned kits or completing training. Won’t affect EI/disability.
    4️⃣ 3-Week Training Program — free, online & in-person:

    Week 1: First aid + naloxone

    Week 2: Senior/low-income check-ins + errands

    Week 3: Lead mini teams for med drops & cleanups
    Completing it opens paid local jobs ($20/hr, 10–20 hrs/week) using existing harm reduction funds.

    5️⃣ Legal Safety — Good Samaritan law protects volunteers calling 911 or giving naloxone.

    Big Picture: Reallocate ~10% of BC’s $49M harm reduction budget to create 5,000+ safe jobs, build community pride, honor veterans, and make neighborhoods safer.

    💡 Plain English:
    “#ALLinBC turns naloxone kits into tools for safety, recovery, skills, and community jobs — with drug warnings, help numbers, incentives, and training, all without new spending.”



    ReplyDelete

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