When my grandfather was in the hospital after being hit by a car, he wasn't eating. So my grandmother told the doctor that she was bringing him in some brandy for him to drink to try & increase his appetite. The doctor agreed so my grandmother brought in brandy whenever she visited him. I thought that was pretty cool.When my old landlord was dying in St Pauls he asked for beer and the doctor said OK but he had to pay for his own-Old Style IIRC
Hard drugs to be decriminalized in British Columbia
- Thread starter B00Mer
- Start date
In a House of Commons health committee hearing this week, two high ranking police representatives disclosed several unsettling facts about the widespread diversion of “safer supply” opioids. However, their testimony also included questionable remarks, which suggest that the province’s police leadership may be playing down the extent of the problem.
Fiona Wilson, who is deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department and president of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP), told parliamentarians that roughly half of the hydromorphone recently seized in the province can be attributed to safer supply — although she didn’t specify what exact quantities of the drug have been found.
To give context, she estimated that approximately 20 per cent of the people who are prescribed hydromorphone in B.C. are enrolled in a safer supply program — which implies that, per capita, safer supply clients divert four times more hydromorphone to the black market than people who receive the drug for other reasons (i.e. chronic pain patients).
This data apparently came as a shock to Premier David Eby, who told reporters on Tuesday that it was the first time that he had ever heard of it. If this is indeed true, then that casts doubt upon the province’s repeated and emphatic claims that it is “closely monitoring” safer supply diversion, etc…
apple.news
While harm reduction advocates have said that safer supply diversion is a rare or insignificant phenomenon, Wilson’s testimony demolished that position. When a taxpayer-funded program is doubling the street supply of a pharmaceutical opioid that is as potent as heroin, that is hardly insignificant.
Fiona Wilson, who is deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department and president of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP), told parliamentarians that roughly half of the hydromorphone recently seized in the province can be attributed to safer supply — although she didn’t specify what exact quantities of the drug have been found.
To give context, she estimated that approximately 20 per cent of the people who are prescribed hydromorphone in B.C. are enrolled in a safer supply program — which implies that, per capita, safer supply clients divert four times more hydromorphone to the black market than people who receive the drug for other reasons (i.e. chronic pain patients).
This data apparently came as a shock to Premier David Eby, who told reporters on Tuesday that it was the first time that he had ever heard of it. If this is indeed true, then that casts doubt upon the province’s repeated and emphatic claims that it is “closely monitoring” safer supply diversion, etc…
Adam Zivo: B.C. police are determined to ignore 'safer supply' opioids flooding streets — National Post
Vancouver chief admits half of hydromorphone seized is from safer supply, but she still downplayed the problem
Great for those selling their prescriptions, gov’t funded, to the street or gangs or organized crime, etc…
However, the diversion problem may actually be worse than Wilson let on, because there may in fact be far fewer safer supply patients diverting even larger quantities of hydromorphone.
According to the 2018/19 British Columbia Controlled Prescription Drug Atlas (more recent data is unavailable), there were approximately 80,000 hydromorphone patients in B.C. that year. It is unlikely that this number has significantly declined since then, although validating that assumption is difficult as the provincial government does not disclose many important drug statistics.
In contrast, there have been, on average, roughly 4,500 safer supply patients in B.C. since access to the program was expanded in 2020.
These numbers suggest that safer supply clients could make up only five per cent, not 20 per cent as the chief said, of all hydromorphone patients. It thus follows that, per capita, safer supply clients may actually divert roughly 18 times more hydromorphone to the black market than everyone else.
And though Wilson said that half of the province’s hydromorphone seizures have been attributed to safer supply, she did not specify whether the other half was conclusively attributed to other sources or whether the origin of the hydromorphone in those cases was often simply unknown.
This distinction matters.
It is notoriously difficult to prove whether diverted hydromorphone originates from safer supply or not, as the federal government inexplicably refuses to make any safer supply drugs “traceable” through special dyes, shapes and chemical identifiers. Investigators must rely on circumstantial evidence, or the presence of prescription bottles and other distinct packaging, to prove a connection — but this evidence is often missing.
It is very possible that, for hydromorphone seizures where the origin of the drug is undetermined, there may be connections to safer supply that simply aren’t measurable. It is possible that safer supply diversion accounts for more than the 50 per cent of confidently attributed cases.
In an email this week, I asked the police chiefs association for clarification on their data and feedback on this analysis — but they did not respond. The Vancouver Police Department did not respond either, to a similar email inquiry on Thursday.
This was unsurprising because Deputy Chief Wilson spent much of her health committee time playing down the significance of safer supply diversion, and, to that end, often leveraged arguments which addiction experts find unconvincing.
For example, she repeatedly emphasized that most drug users die of fentanyl, not hydromorphone — but addiction physicians routinely say that the danger of hydromorphone actually lies in its capacity to hook new people into addiction before escalating them onto stronger, more lethal, opioids.
While Wilson’s comments provided the most explosive news of the committee hearing, B.C. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, who described safer supply diversion as “an emerging concern that requires forthright attention,” also raised eyebrows.
McDonald said that organized crime is trafficking safer supply and that the street price of hydromorphone has “gone down significantly in the last while” (which strongly suggests an explosion of diverted supply). Given that the B.C. and federal governments dismissed these facts as disinformation last year, his corroboration was significant.
However, McDonald also made some questionable claims.
Among other things, he said that, at present, “We do not have evidence to suggest that safer supply has been diverted outside of British Columbia.” This statement directly contradicted the testimony of Prince George RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, who told me last month that her detachment had proven that interprovincial diversion was occurring “through ongoing investigations that involve other departments and other police agencies.”
There have been ongoing concerns that the B.C. RCMP’s leadership is deliberately ignoring safer supply. Last month, the leadership, in contradiction to several lower-ranking detachments, claimed that there is “no evidence” of widespread diversion and concurrently issued a memo, which was leaked to media, instructing local detachments to avoid speaking about the issue with reporters.
After McDonald stood by the implausible “no evidence of widespread safer supply diversion” claim in parliament, Conservative MP Todd Doherty directly accused the RCMP and BCACP of “covering for the government in an election year.” It was hard not to sympathize with him.
For CUPE and BCGEU? Fanfuckingtastic.
Homeless/Addiction Industrial Complex
The Homeless Industrial Complex – California Globe
californiaglobe.com
Government's approach: Continue poisoning them and hire plenty of civil servants to administer the poison.
This garbage is discriminatory. What about all the hopeless alcoholics out there? Won't someone please think of the alcoholics and give them free booze. Their addiction is no less real and no less serious. They should also be allowed to drink anywhere they want; parks, hospitals, restaurants, coffee shops, on the sidewalk somewhere, etc.
Smooth-brained leaders weaponizing addiction. There's a reason why decriming hard drugs in Portugal worked, or at least helped mitigate the problem. Maybe these morons should look into that part of it.
Smooth-brained leaders weaponizing addiction. There's a reason why decriming hard drugs in Portugal worked, or at least helped mitigate the problem. Maybe these morons should look into that part of it.
I'm sure they'll work out something for your people too.
There are free booze programs for the drunks. Has been for decades. They get 1 drink an hour.
British Columbia recriminalizes use of drugs in public spaces
Watch live: David Eby speaking to media at 1:15 p.m. PT, followed by CBC News coverage
CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2024 11:51 AM PDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
B.C. Premier David Eby says the province is moving to end drug decriminalization in public spaces. (Justine Boulin/CBC)
Social Sharing
- X
comments
After weeks of troubling stories about problematic street drug use in hospitals, parks and at bus stops, the province of British Columbia announced plans to recriminalize the use of drugs in public places Friday — radically altering a pilot program aimed at addressing the toxic drug crisis.
In a statement, Premier David Eby insisted that his government is "caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction," but that patience for disorder only goes so far.
"Keeping people safe is our highest priority," said Eby.
"We're taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better," he said.
WATCH | The debate over decriminalization in B.C.:
B.C.'s debate over drug decriminalization | Canada Tonight
2 days ago
Duration10:48
One year into a three-year drug decriminalization pilot, B.C. Premier David Eby says he shares public safety concerns that have been raised by police and city councillors from multiple municipalities. Jess Lamb, co-founder of the East Kootenay Network of People Who Use Drugs, and Alexa Loo, a city councillor in Richmond, B.C., give their thoughts on whether the pilot should continue.
With an election looming, Eby's NDP government has been bombarded with a string of headlines about concerns with decriminalization — a pilot program introduced in January 2023 allowed adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of drugs for personal use without facing criminal charges.
The program was possible through an exemption granted by Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which allowed for open drug use in some public spaces.
- Opposition alleges open drug use, dealing at Vancouver hospital
- Scrutiny of B.C. drug decrim pilot program intensifies
And last week, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson testified at a House of Commons health committee hearing about the struggles police are having responding to public complaints involving disturbances related to public drug consumption.
LISTEN | Political panel discusses the pushback against safe supply pilot:
On The Island17:28On The Island Political Panel for April 26 2024
<p>Gregor Craigie convened the political panel.</p>
In a release, the province says it is "working with Health Canada to urgently change the decriminalization policy to stop drug use in public and has requested an amendment to its … exemption to exclude all public places."
"When police are called to a scene where illegal and dangerous drug use is taking place, they will have the ability to compel the person to leave the area, seize the drugs when necessary or arrest the person, if required," the province said in a statement.
VPD Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson told a parliamentary committee on health the limit on police powers to address the public consumption of illicit drugs is affecting public safety. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
"This change would not recriminalize drug possession in a private residence or place where someone is legally sheltering or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations."
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is also introducing specific measures aimed at curbing illicit drug use in health care facilities — including the prohibition of street drug possession or use.
"We are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports," Dix said in a statement.
"The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the secondhand effects of illicit drug use."
The province said it is working with police to come up with guidance to ensure that people who merely possess drugs are not arrested unless they're threatening public safety or causing a disturbance.
14,000 lives lost
The decriminalization pilot was introduced in January 2023 and allows adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy for personal use without facing criminal charges.Relying on an exemption granted by Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, it also allows for open drug use in some public spaces.
The pilot is part of a government response to the public health emergency declared eight years ago due to a rise in deaths from toxic, illicit drugs.
More than 14,000 people have died since the emergency was declared in 2016, largely due to the opioid fentanyl.
By reducing stigma associated with drug use, officials say they hope to provide better access to lifesaving care along with a less deadly safe supply.
More than 14,000 people have died of toxic, illicit drugs in B.C. since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. (Jean-Marc Poirier/Radio-Canada)
But it has come with criticism about a lack of guardrails.
On April 15, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson testified at a House of Commons health committee hearing about how the pilot is limiting police response to problematic public drug use, including inside hospitals and at bus stops.
"In the wake of decriminalization, there are many of those locations where we have absolutely no authority to address that problematic drug use, because the person appears to be in possession of less than 2.5 grams," Wilson said.
"So, if you have someone who is with their family at the beach, and there's a person next to them smoking crack cocaine, it's not a police matter."
Courts previously stopped legislation
Friday's announcement is the government's latest attempt at curbing public drug use.Last October, it tabled new legislation in an attempt to ban illegal drug use in many public places.
The bill would have banned the use of illicit drugs within six metres of all building entrances and bus stops; within 15 metres of playgrounds, spray and wading pools, and skate parks; and in parks, beaches and sports fields.
But in December, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ordered the law paused until March 31, ruling it would likely result in more deaths, displacement and criminalization of people who use drugs.
"Irreparable harm will be caused if the act comes into force," Hinkson wrote in his ruling.
The provincial government appealed the ruling, but it was upheld by the B.C. Court of Appeal.
I always figured it was everybody's right to pick their own particular road to hell, without let or hindrance.
Cut off the narcan. It's best to let them die than babysit.British Columbia recriminalizes use of drugs in public spaces
Watch live: David Eby speaking to media at 1:15 p.m. PT, followed by CBC News coverage
CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2024 11:51 AM PDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
B.C. Premier David Eby says the province is moving to end drug decriminalization in public spaces. (Justine Boulin/CBC)
Social Sharing
226
- X
comments
After weeks of troubling stories about problematic street drug use in hospitals, parks and at bus stops, the province of British Columbia announced plans to recriminalize the use of drugs in public places Friday — radically altering a pilot program aimed at addressing the toxic drug crisis.
In a statement, Premier David Eby insisted that his government is "caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction," but that patience for disorder only goes so far.
"Keeping people safe is our highest priority," said Eby.
"We're taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better," he said.
WATCH | The debate over decriminalization in B.C.:
B.C.'s debate over drug decriminalization | Canada Tonight
2 days ago
Duration10:48
One year into a three-year drug decriminalization pilot, B.C. Premier David Eby says he shares public safety concerns that have been raised by police and city councillors from multiple municipalities. Jess Lamb, co-founder of the East Kootenay Network of People Who Use Drugs, and Alexa Loo, a city councillor in Richmond, B.C., give their thoughts on whether the pilot should continue.
With an election looming, Eby's NDP government has been bombarded with a string of headlines about concerns with decriminalization — a pilot program introduced in January 2023 allowed adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of drugs for personal use without facing criminal charges.
The program was possible through an exemption granted by Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which allowed for open drug use in some public spaces.
Eby's political opponents have seized on concerns from hospital workers and patients about illegal drug use and trafficking in the hallways of hospitals.
- Opposition alleges open drug use, dealing at Vancouver hospital
- Scrutiny of B.C. drug decrim pilot program intensifies
And last week, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson testified at a House of Commons health committee hearing about the struggles police are having responding to public complaints involving disturbances related to public drug consumption.
LISTEN | Political panel discusses the pushback against safe supply pilot:
On The Island17:28On The Island Political Panel for April 26 2024
<p>Gregor Craigie convened the political panel.</p>
In a release, the province says it is "working with Health Canada to urgently change the decriminalization policy to stop drug use in public and has requested an amendment to its … exemption to exclude all public places."
"When police are called to a scene where illegal and dangerous drug use is taking place, they will have the ability to compel the person to leave the area, seize the drugs when necessary or arrest the person, if required," the province said in a statement.
VPD Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson told a parliamentary committee on health the limit on police powers to address the public consumption of illicit drugs is affecting public safety. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
"This change would not recriminalize drug possession in a private residence or place where someone is legally sheltering or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations."
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is also introducing specific measures aimed at curbing illicit drug use in health care facilities — including the prohibition of street drug possession or use.
"We are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports," Dix said in a statement.
"The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the secondhand effects of illicit drug use."
The province said it is working with police to come up with guidance to ensure that people who merely possess drugs are not arrested unless they're threatening public safety or causing a disturbance.
14,000 lives lost
The decriminalization pilot was introduced in January 2023 and allows adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy for personal use without facing criminal charges.
Relying on an exemption granted by Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, it also allows for open drug use in some public spaces.
The pilot is part of a government response to the public health emergency declared eight years ago due to a rise in deaths from toxic, illicit drugs.
More than 14,000 people have died since the emergency was declared in 2016, largely due to the opioid fentanyl.
By reducing stigma associated with drug use, officials say they hope to provide better access to lifesaving care along with a less deadly safe supply.
More than 14,000 people have died of toxic, illicit drugs in B.C. since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. (Jean-Marc Poirier/Radio-Canada)
But it has come with criticism about a lack of guardrails.
On April 15, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson testified at a House of Commons health committee hearing about how the pilot is limiting police response to problematic public drug use, including inside hospitals and at bus stops.
"In the wake of decriminalization, there are many of those locations where we have absolutely no authority to address that problematic drug use, because the person appears to be in possession of less than 2.5 grams," Wilson said.
"So, if you have someone who is with their family at the beach, and there's a person next to them smoking crack cocaine, it's not a police matter."
Courts previously stopped legislation
Friday's announcement is the government's latest attempt at curbing public drug use.
Last October, it tabled new legislation in an attempt to ban illegal drug use in many public places.
The bill would have banned the use of illicit drugs within six metres of all building entrances and bus stops; within 15 metres of playgrounds, spray and wading pools, and skate parks; and in parks, beaches and sports fields.
But in December, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ordered the law paused until March 31, ruling it would likely result in more deaths, displacement and criminalization of people who use drugs.
"Irreparable harm will be caused if the act comes into force," Hinkson wrote in his ruling.
The provincial government appealed the ruling, but it was upheld by the B.C. Court of Appeal.
We keep Narcan behind our front door. That’s what we called the blue aluminum bat that resides there. It’s short (youth, aluminum bat?) so it could be used one-handed. It might save a junkies life someday.
There is nothing "caring & compassionate" about giving out "free drugs" and allowing these drugs to be taken anywhere at any time. How is this "caring & compassionate?" Again, they're in the process of changing the meanings of words because this isn't caring & compassionate at all.British Columbia recriminalizes use of drugs in public spaces
Watch live: David Eby speaking to media at 1:15 p.m. PT, followed by CBC News coverage
CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2024 11:51 AM PDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
B.C. Premier David Eby says the province is moving to end drug decriminalization in public spaces. (Justine Boulin/CBC)
Social Sharing
226
- X
comments
After weeks of troubling stories about problematic street drug use in hospitals, parks and at bus stops, the province of British Columbia announced plans to recriminalize the use of drugs in public places Friday — radically altering a pilot program aimed at addressing the toxic drug crisis.
In a statement, Premier David Eby insisted that his government is "caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction," but that patience for disorder only goes so far.
"Keeping people safe is our highest priority," said Eby.
"We're taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better," he said.
WATCH | The debate over decriminalization in B.C.:
B.C.'s debate over drug decriminalization | Canada Tonight
2 days ago
Duration10:48
One year into a three-year drug decriminalization pilot, B.C. Premier David Eby says he shares public safety concerns that have been raised by police and city councillors from multiple municipalities. Jess Lamb, co-founder of the East Kootenay Network of People Who Use Drugs, and Alexa Loo, a city councillor in Richmond, B.C., give their thoughts on whether the pilot should continue.
With an election looming, Eby's NDP government has been bombarded with a string of headlines about concerns with decriminalization — a pilot program introduced in January 2023 allowed adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of drugs for personal use without facing criminal charges.
The program was possible through an exemption granted by Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which allowed for open drug use in some public spaces.
Eby's political opponents have seized on concerns from hospital workers and patients about illegal drug use and trafficking in the hallways of hospitals.
- Opposition alleges open drug use, dealing at Vancouver hospital
- Scrutiny of B.C. drug decrim pilot program intensifies
And last week, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson testified at a House of Commons health committee hearing about the struggles police are having responding to public complaints involving disturbances related to public drug consumption.
LISTEN | Political panel discusses the pushback against safe supply pilot:
On The Island17:28On The Island Political Panel for April 26 2024
<p>Gregor Craigie convened the political panel.</p>
In a release, the province says it is "working with Health Canada to urgently change the decriminalization policy to stop drug use in public and has requested an amendment to its … exemption to exclude all public places."
"When police are called to a scene where illegal and dangerous drug use is taking place, they will have the ability to compel the person to leave the area, seize the drugs when necessary or arrest the person, if required," the province said in a statement.
VPD Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson told a parliamentary committee on health the limit on police powers to address the public consumption of illicit drugs is affecting public safety. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
"This change would not recriminalize drug possession in a private residence or place where someone is legally sheltering or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations."
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is also introducing specific measures aimed at curbing illicit drug use in health care facilities — including the prohibition of street drug possession or use.
"We are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports," Dix said in a statement.
"The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the secondhand effects of illicit drug use."
The province said it is working with police to come up with guidance to ensure that people who merely possess drugs are not arrested unless they're threatening public safety or causing a disturbance.
14,000 lives lost
The decriminalization pilot was introduced in January 2023 and allows adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy for personal use without facing criminal charges.
Relying on an exemption granted by Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, it also allows for open drug use in some public spaces.
The pilot is part of a government response to the public health emergency declared eight years ago due to a rise in deaths from toxic, illicit drugs.
More than 14,000 people have died since the emergency was declared in 2016, largely due to the opioid fentanyl.
By reducing stigma associated with drug use, officials say they hope to provide better access to lifesaving care along with a less deadly safe supply.
More than 14,000 people have died of toxic, illicit drugs in B.C. since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. (Jean-Marc Poirier/Radio-Canada)
But it has come with criticism about a lack of guardrails.
On April 15, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson testified at a House of Commons health committee hearing about how the pilot is limiting police response to problematic public drug use, including inside hospitals and at bus stops.
"In the wake of decriminalization, there are many of those locations where we have absolutely no authority to address that problematic drug use, because the person appears to be in possession of less than 2.5 grams," Wilson said.
"So, if you have someone who is with their family at the beach, and there's a person next to them smoking crack cocaine, it's not a police matter."
Courts previously stopped legislation
Friday's announcement is the government's latest attempt at curbing public drug use.
Last October, it tabled new legislation in an attempt to ban illegal drug use in many public places.
The bill would have banned the use of illicit drugs within six metres of all building entrances and bus stops; within 15 metres of playgrounds, spray and wading pools, and skate parks; and in parks, beaches and sports fields.
But in December, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ordered the law paused until March 31, ruling it would likely result in more deaths, displacement and criminalization of people who use drugs.
"Irreparable harm will be caused if the act comes into force," Hinkson wrote in his ruling.
The provincial government appealed the ruling, but it was upheld by the B.C. Court of Appeal.