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The BC government had 4 years to implement #safesupply for 1 public health emergency. It didn't. Now we're dealing with 2 public health emergencies and seeing more overdoses, more deaths, and more complex overdose responses. A thread 
#bcpoli #bcnews #overdose #safesupply
#bcpoli #bcnews #overdose #safesupply
1 ) March 27: 2 months after the first case of COVID-19, BC introduced new safe supply guidelines. At that time, frontline workers and people who use drugs (PWUD) were already sounding the alarm on overdoses rising due a toxic and disrupted drug supply. https://globalnews.ca/news/6744401/coronavirus-overdose-safe-drugs/
2) March 31: DTES workers and nurses send an open letter to Horgan, Dix, Henry, Daly, Stewart, and Darcy. They call for 5 immediate actions including adequate PPE, safe supply, supervised consumption services, shelter and housing support, food and water. https://www.straight.com/covid-19-pandemic/open-letter-from-dtes-frontline-workers
3) April 1: Vancouver reports its first major spike in overdoses and overdose deaths. "A stark reminder that the province is in the midst of two health crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid overdose crisis". https://globalnews.ca/news/6763146/vancouver-sees-spike-in-overdose-deaths-amid-covid-19-crisis/
4) April 6: Frontline workers and advocates voice concerns about the logistics of implementing safe supply in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Services are already disrupted. Some are closed. Implementation will be slow. Prescribers hard to find. https://www.vicnews.com/news/advocates-call-safe-drug-supply-a-victory-but-worry-about-logistics-in-pandemic/
5) April 14: BC declared a public health emergency 4 years ago, on April 14 2016. Since then, more than 5,000 people have died in the province. https://www.vicnews.com/news/as-b-c-grapples-with-pandemic-top-doctor-marks-grim-anniversary-of-overdose-crisis/
6) April 21 (in Victoria): One person dies on Pandora Ave where about 80-100 tents have been set up following radical disruption and closure of services. The death is not related to COVID-19. Overdoses begin to spike. https://www.vicnews.com/news/death-on-pandora-avenue-not-thought-to-be-covid-19-related/
7) April 23 (in Victoria): Two people die at Topaz Park where about 200 tents have been set up as part of the city's response to COVID-19. Staff start checking on residents every two hours. Alerts are sent: there's bad dope on the street. https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/tent-city-deaths-illustrate-how-crises-are-taking-toll-on-victoria-s-homeless-1.24123547
8) April 25 (in Victoria): BC government announces that people whose tents are located on Pandora Ave and at Topaz Park will be moved to hotel rooms. A public safety order is issued to move everyone out by mid-May. Displacement begins the next day. https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/dismantling-of-victoria-homeless-camps-underway-as-province-implements-hotel-program-1.4912722
9) April 26 (in Victoria): Staff report 7 overdoses in one shift alone. Overdoses are complex and long to manage. Serious concerns are voiced about the risk of moving people to individual hotel rooms without immediate implementation of tailored safe supply programs.
10) Urgently needed: Safe supply. The drug supply is toxic and disrupted. Safe supply prevents overdoses. It prevents overdose deaths. It decreases the demand on exhausted and under-resourced frontline workers. It also decreases risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission.
11) Urgently needed: Without safe supply, people cannot and should not be moved to individual hotel rooms. Isolating people and forcing them to use toxic drugs is a death sentence. The BC government needs to listen to people on the ground - they know what works and what doesn't.
12) Urgently needed: Supports, staffing and PPE. For 4 years now, frontline workers and peers who are underpaid and overworked have been putting their bodies and health on the line to save lives. COVID-19 has made things a lot worst. Their health and safety should be paramount.
