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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 1d

www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...

"The synthetic opioid nitazene ... is showing up ... in counterfeit pressed pills sold as oxycodone, percocet and hydromorphone."

A predicted harm of the BC Government's crackdown on safer supply prescribing.

#bcpoli

Potent new drug turning up in counterfeit pills in Greater Victoria

Drug-checking service warns the synthetic opioid nitazene is showing up in counterfeit pills sold as oxycodone, percocet and hydromorphone.

www.timescolonist.com

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 9d

cheknews.ca/unsanctioned...

Unsanctioned overdose prevention sites open again in Victoria, Nanaimo

Doctors for Safer Drug Policy installed two overdose prevention sites near Royal Jubilee Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital over the weekend.

cheknews.ca

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 10d

It’s a creeping threat to us all. First they came for substance use care…

Susan Kim 김수잔 @susankimyyj.bsky.social · 10d

Ever since our friends at @dsdp.ca asked me why politicians think meddling in medicine is a good idea, I’ve been haunted. It’s not like MDs tell us how to upzone cities, so why do elected officials going against medical professionals get normalized?!

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 10d

And again today!

Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 11d

We are running an OPS outside RJH today! Come on down to see what the fuss is about! The government still hasn’t followed through on its commitment to fund three OPS at Island hospitals.

#bcpoli #harmreduction

Volunteers hang out with snacks and harm reduction supplies. A Doctors for Safer Drug Policy banner flies proudly.

Overdose Prevention Site tents and banners just outside Royal Jubilee Hospital.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 11d

www.nanaimobulletin.com/local-news/p...

Patient care: Overdose prevention sites return to Nanaimo, Victoria hospitals

'Hospital-based overdose prevention sites not only save patients’ lives, they also protect hospital staff'

www.nanaimobulletin.com

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 11d

We are running an OPS outside RJH today! Come on down to see what the fuss is about! The government still hasn’t followed through on its commitment to fund three OPS at Island hospitals.

#bcpoli #harmreduction

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 17d

Hi there @davethompsonvic.bsky.social

thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...

‘Street Sweeps’ Increase Overdose and Violence Risks, Study Finds | The Tyee

City workers in Vancouver have been confiscating tents and personal belongings from unhoused people since 2008.

thetyee.ca

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 22d

www.chly.ca/local-news/2...

Die-in demands attention to overdose deaths — CHLY 101.7FM: Listener Supported in Nanaimo BC.

Sunday August 31st was International Overdose Awareness Day, and communities across Vancouver Island gathered on Friday August 29th to honour the day. The Village Clinic in Courtenay hosted an event a...

www.chly.ca

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 22d

www.frequencynews.ca/news/overdos...

Overdose Awareness Day “die-in” demands attention to overdose deaths

On Friday, August 29th an estimated 150 people gathered at the Comox Valley Art Gallery to honour International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31st). As part of the event…

www.frequencynews.ca

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 22d

www.vicnews.com/local-news/v...

Victoria council votes down call to oppose drug decriminalization renewal

One councillor called the motion 'at worst, a callous disregard' for lives lost

www.vicnews.com

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Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy

Canadian Medical Association @cmadocs.bsky.social · Sep 4

The Canadian Medical Association stands with our colleagues at the American Medical Association (AMA) in calling on Florida to reverse its plans to end all vaccine mandates, including those required for school attendance.
Our statement ⬇️

CMA stands with U.S. doctors, urges decisions be based on science and facts

Childhood vaccines prevent illness and save lives. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) stands with our colleagues at the American Medical Association (AMA) in calling on Florida to reverse its plan...

bit.ly

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Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy

Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social · Aug 30

Broken record territory rapidly approaching, but once again: Homelessness is not a societal inevitability. It's a policy failure.

This is a solvable issue with a known solution, even under capitalism, because that solution is less expensive than the current responses.

We just don't want to do it.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

One of our founders, Dr. Kelsey Roden, lays out what we need.

#bcpoli #IOAD #harmreduction

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS_h...

Kelsey

YouTube video by R D

www.youtube.com

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

Extra special thanks to @jaythecree for his incredible hoop dancing performance which closed out the Victoria event with a feeling of positivity and hope.

Jay the Cree gives an incredible hoop dancing performance which closed out the Victoria event with a feeling of positivity and hope.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

We then gathered together on the Legislature steps in a die-in to demonstrate how far this crisis has affected us. From the loss of coworkers, patients, neighbours, loved ones, and even the impact on those supporting front line workers.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

Enough is enough. And this weekend, we said so.
We are so thankful for the many volunteers who made all these events possible. Special thanks to our allies @momsstoptheharm for being such a voice of power.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

We want evidence-based policy.
We need harm reduction.
We need people with lived experience to be given a voice to lead policy.
We want our government to focus on social determinants of health.

Members look on as our speakers bring down the hammer. One of our doctors holds a sign that shows one of the things that is killing our patients: "Lack of Safe Supply."

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

Policies that speakers Hoon and Jan Mahoney shared had affected their lives in devastating ways.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

On Labour Day we closed out the weekend of IOAD events at the BC Legislature, where we hosted an emotional gathering to grieve the loss of so many of our loved ones to bad government policy and to demand better.

We heard from former BC Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe, and our own Dr. Kelsey Roden.

One of our co-founders, Dr. Kelsey Roden, tells the government what we need.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

Die in on September 1, 2025. B.C. legislature. We need an expansion of harm reduction services including more OPS, more sterile equipment, more (not less) access to safe supply. Bring back decrim, but bigger and better. End so-called "involuntary treatment," i.e. forced abstinence.

Blood on the hands of the BC Government.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

This #IOAD, we laid the truth, and our bodies, at the BC Government's feet. #bcpoli #harmreduction

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 7

Jay Genaille aka Jay the Hoop Dancer aka Jay the Cree gave an incredible performance at our #IOAD event in #Victoria.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · Sep 6

globalnews.ca/news/1137760...

B.C. advocates talk recovery, safer supply on International Overdose Awareness Day | Globalnews.ca

Demonstrators placed a long line of photos memorializing some of the thousands of British Columbians whose lives have been lost to drugs on the steps to the B.C. legislature.

globalnews.ca

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Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy

Krista Loughton @kristaloughton.bsky.social · Sep 5

🧵Today, Victoria Council voted 7–1 against a motion to end decriminalization.

The motion was misguided. It falsely claimed decriminalization has been “especially harmful” without evidence. In reality, the crisis we face is driven by the toxic, fentanyl-contaminated supply—not decriminalization.

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Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy

Susan Kim 김수잔 @susankimyyj.bsky.social · Sep 4

Want to shout out @dsdp.ca, Lisa Lapointe, Dr Perry Kendall (PHO before Dr Henry), PEERS, PHS, BC Poverty Reduction, PEERS, Moms Stop the Harm, individual city residents for writing in asking Council to maintain support of decriminalization. I love y'all.

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