There are many people out there who want to get help but can’t.
COVID-19 is making the overdose crisis worse. I see it first hand
When you use drugs alone it’s a lot more dangerous because there’s no one there to help you if you overdose
The double standard between alcohol and drugs reveals the harmful nature of stigma
“Back in prohibition days for alcohol, folks were dying from homemade hooch. I wonder how many places in Canada serve alcohol now?”
Study: Opioid-Related Deaths in Ontario during COVID-19
Findings of this report broadly suggest a need for policies and programs designed to urgently address the increase in opioid mortality, such as access to harm reduction…and safer supply of drugs.
Montreal: Recommendations for change
“There [is] a problem in accessing data, [and] stigma is one of those obstacles in obtaining this data. The events that are experienced on the ground are in the fog. I see this as an obstacle to making good decisions.”
An appetite for action: Summary of Montreal public health dialogue
“Right now, it’s disastrous. The crisis has not stopped, but increased since COVID-19. In August there were 147 deaths from overdoses.”
Changing how we talk about substance use
The language we use has a direct and profound impact on those around us. The negative impacts of stigma can be reduced by changing the language we use about substance use.
You shouldn’t be afraid to phone 911 if you witness an overdose: The benefits and limits of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
If you are being detained, you have a right to know why you are being detained and the right to remain silent until you have had a chance to speak with a lawyer.
Looking back and looking forward: A letter to my younger self
We need more support for people with addiction in our communities. Having access to continued trauma counselling to help resolve issues with her upbringing and being abandoned would have helped a lot.
