Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy Rally in Support of SCS in Edmonton and Calgary #yes2scs

Edmonton SCS supporters stage a die in at the steps of the Legislature as a reminder of the lives lost to substance use related causes.

Edmonton Supporters Hold Their Rally at the Steps of the Alberta Legislature

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Calgary SCS Supporters Gather at Central Memorial Park

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Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy - Joint Statement

For release: 2020-02-26

The overdose crisis in Canada represents the single greatest public health emergency we, as a nation, have experienced in modern times. Our beloved province has not been left unscathed in the turmoil inflicted by a toxic drug supply. Since January 1st, 2016, we have lost a devastating 2,026 friends, family, and loved ones; we have buried our children, siblings, and parents over what can only be described as a crisis of misaligned drug policy. As the crisis took hold of Alberta, a rapid upscaling of evidence-based and life-saving initiatives were implemented to stem the rising tide of deaths. The Minister’s Opioid Emergency Response Commission (MOERC) identified six key areas of focus: treatment, prevention, harm reduction, analytics, enforcement, and collaboration. Each strategic area was bolstered with supports and resources, understanding that no single method would resolve such a complex problem.

Among these initiatives, we saw the urgent implementation of supervised consumption services (SCS); these sites have seen massive uptake, and despite managing a demand no standalone service should ever face on its own, their efficacy cannot be denied. By March 31st, 2019 SCS in Alberta had successfully responded to 3,563 overdoses. If that weren’t enough, these services endeavour to connect clients to housing, legal, medical, and social supports with an efficiency that outmatches traditional models of care. There has never been an overdose death in an SCS.

The narrative surrounding SCS has seen a dramatic shift in tone—in recent months, our government has vilified these services with misinformed vitriol meant to incite disdain for both supporters and clients alike. A false dichotomy has been established, regrettably pitting the treatment/recovery and harm reduction communities against one another. In truth, all evidence-based services along the continuum of care require support, rather than leading the public to believe it is one or the other. This is not about politics. In fact, politics has no place in responding to a public health emergency. The following joint statement is a call to action; a call to reason; a call to ethics. Any moving, restriction, or closing of existing sites in Alberta will undoubtedly lead to more preventable deaths. Our request is simple:

1. Maintain funding for existing sites

2. Unfreeze funding for both pending sites

3. Make no restrictions or moving of existing sites

History will not favour any decision that willfully puts Albertans at greater risk. The choice, and subsequent outcome is in your hands. Please cast aside the rhetoric, and listen to the evidence. We, as a community of caring Albertans will continue to advocate for the rights of our most vulnerable. They are loved, and deserving of care, regardless of circumstance.

This joint statement is endorsed by: Alberta Addicts Who Educate and Advocate Responsibility (AAWEAR), Alberta Federation of Union Retirees (AFUR), Alberta Nurses Coalition on Harm Reduction (ANCHR), Alberta Public Health Association Albertans with Lived Experience Advocating for Safe Supply Canadian, Association of People who Use Drugs (CAPUD), Canadian Association for Safe Supply (CASS), Canadian Drug Policy Coalition Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP), Canadian Union of Retirees – Alberta Chapter, Change the Face of Addiction, Council of Canadians Council of Canadians – Edmonton Chapter, Council of Canadians – Red Deer Chapter, Council of Canadians – Medicine Hat Chapter, Crackdown Podcast, Friends of Medicare Friends of Medicare – Lethbridge Chapter, Friends of Medicare – Palliser Chapter, Harm Reduction Nurses Association (HRNA/AIIRM), Hat Overdose Prevention and Education (HOPE), Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), Moms Stop the Harm, Public Interest Alberta, Red Deer Area People Who Use Drugs (RADPWUD)

Families gather on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River for the Edmonton Memorial Photo

Families from Frog Lake, Claresholm, Marwayne, Lone Butte BC (with Edmonton family ties) and the Edmonton region gathered at the banks of the North Saskatchewan River to remember loved ones lost to substance use related causes. We demand urgent government action to prevent further loss of life.

While overdose deaths account for most of the tragic losses, we often forget that families mourn loved ones to other causes, such as infections and blood born diseases caused by lack of access to sterile supplies, and to suicide related to substance use and mental health challenges, as it the case with two of our Edmonton families in this photo..

It was a tear-filled and emotional gathering for us all, staring with blessings by Elder Dennis R. Wolfe from Frog Lake, AB, who drove in to Edmonton with his wife Loretta. They mourn their son Dennis Junior who died in March, 2019.

The river where we all stood marks the traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and travelling route of the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.

The crosses were an emotional labour of love by Phil Haug, the husband of MSTH co-founder Lorna Thomas and by Randy Pelletier. As the crosses were stacked up Phil and Randy were struck with the fact that each cross represented a loved one who is deeply loved and sadly gone. A son, a daughter, brother or sister, a parent. Many held crosses, eagle feathers, candles or other mementos to honour and remember their loved one.

In Alberta two people per day continue to die, while life saving public health services, like #SCS (Supervised Consumption Services) are under review in Alberta and their future is uncertain as we the announcement of the final findings of the review and their fate by our provincial government. For us as families, this is unacceptable, as death from substance use are preventable and our loved ones deserve to live.

We thank our photographer Rebecca Lippiatt Photography for capturing these powerful and emotional images, including individual family portraits following the group photo.

#StopTheStigma #LostToSubstanceUse #DeadPeopleCantRecover #SafeSupplyEndsTears

Memorial Photo By Niagara Moms Ending Stima - NAMES

Inspired by the series of memorial photos MSTH members organized in Kelowna, Vancouver, Powell River and Edmonton, our sisters and brothers in advocacy from the group NAMES want to create their version of the merial photo remembering their loved ones lost at a iconic location in Ontario. An easy choice if you live right next to Niagara Falls. The group gathered on Sunday February 22 for the emotional photo shoot at the falls with photographer April Jeffs from Lakeside Studios, joined by MSTH members from Toronto.

Each of the photos has its own character and is shaped by the landscape that surrounds us, but we are all connected by our common bond - the loved ones we lost and our determination to bring an end to the dying.

#StopTheStigma #LostToSubstanceUse #DeadPeopleCantRecover #SafeSupplyEndsTears

Harm reduction means you can't pick and chose

Guest Blog by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW in Brooklyn, NY from twitter with permission.

Comments in [ ] are from MSTH to offer a Canadian context and/or definitions.

There are serious consequences to learning about/being exposed to the concept of “harm reduction” in regards to a single class of drugs (i.e. opioids) and believing that it is about providing interventions and materials rather than an entire philosophy and approach to caring when I look at any drug use and try to support harm reduction, I think of the 3 domains where harm and risk can be reduced-

1. the drug itself,

2. the set/person who is using, and

3. the setting- immediate environment, but also policy and structural factors.

So when we look at the “drug” factors and how to reduce harm, it means ANY drug. And acknowledging that the Prohibitionist policy setting contributing to adulterated drugs may mean that harm reduction is a safe regulated supply or viable substitutes/alternates.

This includes offering a supply in the same class of drugs with safe equipment to use it (injectable agonists), the same class of drug with alternative safer mode of consumption (ecigs, Rx stims), another class of drug that might still “scratch the itch” (marijuana adjuncts), etc.

To be a harm reductionist, i cannot exceptionalize any drug and must be able to view its harms and risks through the eyes of the user. No drug is taboo. No drug is bad. (These thoughts inevitably contaminate relationship w user and threaten any foundation of respect).

If you were trained in what you think is harm reduction but it was substance-specific—opioids, not stimulants; Alcohol, not benzos; Marijuana, not fentanyl; Tobacco, not LSD; you need to acknowledge this limitation and work to zoom out.

This is why I struggle with new organisations and “allies” who are only “harm reductionists” by substance- and even then, have limited imaginations for the ways harms can be reduced- particularly through decrim and regulatory models. All these professionals (public health, medicine, nurses, etc) who agree that we need syringe access, naloxone, methadone and bupe [Suboxone]. But stop at injectable agonists, safer consumption spaces, or all drug decrim. If you struggle with some, not others- I’m sorry, that’s not harm reduction.

You’ll advocate to “decrim plants” [MSTH: The author is based in the US where Cannabis is still not legal in most states] but not drugs made in a lab? Y*ng said drugs should be decriminalized yet believed that people who OD should remain hospitalized for 3 days.

I know of a legislator somewhere who supports Safer Consumption Spaces but also is okay with homeless folks with substance use and mental health challenges being involuntarily committed.

You’re not worried about your license for off-label prescribing stimulants to 8 year olds yet a full grown adult user of potent adulterated street meth is “too much of a risk”.

You know the criminal justice system harms your patients with opioid use disorder but you’re fine with marijuana prohibition [MSTH: In the US] which puts young black and brown men in contact with this system everyday?

My mom saved my life - while she was dying

By Elizabeth Lawrence (aka Florence Lorence) from Lethbridge Alberta - Shared to MSTH via Facebook and reprinted with permission.

Note: Florence self identifies with the term addict and we respect her choice of language.

Mary Ann Lawrence RIP

Be kind to the suffering addict, the only way out is not to judge, shame and take away their worth......its already gone. The only way out is to give the gift of HOPE when they are finally completely feeling spiritually empty, hopeless and the life they once enjoyed is crumbling around them .  

I have been there.  If it wasn’t for my mother, my father and my friends I would not be here. Sue, who knew me from a from a previous stay at Sage health centre, and a stranger brought me back from my robbed life and non spiritual hell. With the worst greyhound trip across Canada (which I tried multiple unsuccessful attempts to bail). With nothing to drink or eat for two days I suffered even more.  A stranger, who knew I needed help, tucked me in and gave me my first drink.  I felt every drop as if it brought me back to life, it awakened my spirit, something so simple, as I looked at the can, the sky cleared up and the sun was shining onto my hand, on that can it said "Canada Dry".  I laughed because I truly was Canadian dry on a bus from Montreal to Kamloops (ticket given to me from Wayne and Karen, thank you. I’m forever grateful).

When I got off that bus that kind stranger said "you're a good person ". I cried and for the first time in a long time I had hope. He was returning home from his mother’s funeral. I now share that pain after losing my mother to cancer.  I wish I could thank him and tell him he's a good person. 

In sobriety, my addiction has been used against me, to deflect their own lies and issues. What helps me is going back to this time and see my worth again.

What I would like to say is: my story was about the kindness, love and hope, but it could have been the opposite with my mother, Sue, Wayne, Karen and this stranger not in it. I would have had zero treatment option, no way to get anywhere, not a good person. I would have felt worthless. This would have been my end, my life gone, love lost. There would be no hope and wouldn't have been there holding my mother’s hand when she needed me the most. 

I'm sure comments on here, on Roast and Toast [local Lethbridge Facebook page where this was first posted] may become harsh. I've been commenting for months on theses posts. I have many stories and so do a lot of addicts. I personally have been told I am stupid, a “f'nb”, mean, lied about in attempts to ruin my reputation, well petty much everything right down to “let addicts die”.

I’ve been told how dare I compare addiction to cancer , if you knew me you'd know I fight both (triple negative breast cancer) and know the outcome of both diseases and do have knowledge and this is my opinion. I will not let my Mothers cries and fight for me be for nothing.

1. I will continue to know my truth and who I am whether I am using or not and defend other addicts whether they use or not.

2. I will continue to stick up for those who are hurt by hate in every sense , in every illness.   

3. I will continue to reach out my hand

4. I will continue to comfort; hear their stories and I will continue to tell them they matter.   

I do know there is bad people out there who are addicts and who are not addicts, but most are not bad. My heart breaks for the ones suffering in this crisis. I don't think I would have accepted help if this is the way people were reacting. 

Lethbridge needs to stop talking negatively about addicts and give hope and love, compassion and understanding.

Please be a good person. 

Epilogue and comment by Elizabeth to MSTH:

My mother asked me before I left for Montreal if I was tiring to race her to her grave. I truly believe I held on because I saw her pain. I cannot imagine if I had passed, she could possibly be in more pain than I saw. She saved me and I know the mothers on your site [MSTH] have pain that is unbearable, and I think so brave to fight for a cause to help other mothers, children and support with education.

We need to be louder than the ones bringing stigma that's incorrect, they are a huge part of the problem. My mother was part of saving me but I also know one person sometimes isn't enough even if their bond is strong, I wish for the mothers here and elsewhere to please don't blame themselves, you are all the best mothers especially working for this cause, your my heroes.

MSTH: Thank you Elizabeth. Your words mean a lot to us. This fight is exhausting and sometimes it’s hard to know where we make a different. Words like yours sustain us and keep us going. You are right. We need to be louder!