Insiteful Vancouver

@INSITEvan on BLUESKY
Tweets by #HarmReduction Advocates and Do Not Necessarily Reflect the Views of VCH or PHS #insitesaveslives

[Insiteful Vancouver @InsiteVan]

Insitevan is also on Bluesky

@insitevan.bsky.social

#harmreduction
#insitesaveslives

[Soapbox @soapboxvan]

I just wrote a @TheActionNet
letter:

DEMAND the #CRA end the Canada to Israel charity pipeline. Write one here: https://t.co/zk4vmhPjNs

[Russell Maynard @rusmaynard]

Beautiful! - Manitoba (even w a Conservative Mayor) moving forward using evidenced-based Public Health tools!
While Vancouver & BC move backwards...
@matthew__bonn @guyfelicella @Dave_Eby @bcndp
@avilewis @NDP
https://t.co/ig4hP7rUmV

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

As a person in recovery who has changed his life and now spends his time helping others find their own pathway to recovery, I find this deeply troubling.
Addiction should NEVER be used as a political weapon.

Spreading misinformation about addiction, harm reduction and recovery doesn’t just score political points, it hurts real people. It stigmatizes people struggling right now, dismisses those working toward recovery and undermines the people and organizations doing this work every single day.

There ARE pathways out of addiction. I’m living proof of that.
We should be bringing people together around evidence, lived experience, compassion and solutions, not politicizing a crisis that is already taking far too many lives.
People struggling with addiction deserve better than being used as political props! #bcpoli

[Harm Reduction International @HRInews]

28 days to submit your abstract for #HR27Belfast!

https://t.co/LMRN9IkW4Z

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

Well this is disappointing, to say the least. Apparently there was a “public safety roundtable” organized by ABC Vancouver yesterday (International Overdose Awareness Day). But it doesn’t appear it was open to the public at all … only to invited guests and people who share the mayor’s narrow opinions on the drug crisis.

None of these panel participants actually work in recovery services in Vancouver, and judging by the social media content they’re producing, they don’t even know anything about how to access it (there’s a single phone number!)

TO STATE THERE IS NO PATHWAY OUT OF ADDICTION IS FALSE.

And what, for the love of all that’s holy, is the “status quo”? There’s no such thing.
➡️ The contents of the illicit drug supply are constantly changing
➡️ The rate of overdose is constantly changing
➡️ The number of recovery beds and programs is growing
➡️ Life-saving harm reduction programs in Vancouver are being limited.

So nope. This supposed “status quo” that isn’t working doesn’t exist. Looks like this round table was just more political rhetoric in an echo chamber. A total waste of time, when what we need are real solutions that work.

And Julian, this is why you don’t deserve an apology from me for saying you spread misinformation. BECAUSE YOU DO.

[Insiteful Vancouver @InsiteVan]

Anatomy of a hush-up: How Health Canada buried the safe supply expert reviews

https://t.co/uySvHlq6sv

[Insiteful Vancouver @InsiteVan]

Overdose Prevention Service Hours Extended - Toronto
#harmreduction

https://t.co/hw9fsu65Ep

[Sarah Axelrath, MD @DrSarahAxelrath]

Another huge thanks to @InsiteVan for the tour this morning! It was a dream to finally see the program in person after a decade of admiring your work from afar. Denver continues to use your work as a guide for what we hope to one day provide for our own community of PWUD. 💜

[Insiteful Vancouver @InsiteVan]

Anatomy of a hush-up: How Health Canada buried the safe supply expert reviews

https://t.co/uySvHlq6sv

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

I just wanted to pop on here and thank everyone for the support over the last few weeks, and over the years.

I came on Twitter years ago for one reason: to share my story and let people know that no matter how far down you've gone, people can rehabilitate their lives if they're willing to do the work.

Yes, I have a past, you don't survive gangs and addiction without having one.

There are things in my past that I deeply regret. I take responsibility for them. I can't go back and change them, all I can do is make sure I never become that person again.

I didn't change my life to receive accolades. I never imagined I'd receive the Courage to Come Back Award, be named to Vancouver Magazine's Power 50 twice, receive a King Charles III award, or be recognized by the City of Vancouver for my work in harm reduction and recovery.

I changed because I was sick and tired of watching my addiction torch everyone and everything around me.

I've worked extremely hard to rebuild my life, and my story has been recognized around the world as an example of someone overcoming extreme odds and becoming a productive member of society. There's even a documentary coming soon telling that story.

And to the people attacking me over my past whether it's over things I actually did or things I didn't, especially those who claim to believe in treatment, recovery and rehabilitation:
Your actions say something very different.

You can't preach rehabilitation and then spend your time trying to destroy people because of who they used to be.
I know who I was a more ore importantly, I know who I am today.
For much of my life, I wasn't a role model. Today, I try to be one.

I've earned the support of judges, police, justice officials, communities and members of the public. I've spoken at gang-prevention conferences trying to keep kids from following my path, at recovery and medical conferences, and inside prisons telling people the truth about where that life leads.

I've spent years trying to turn the worst chapters of my life into something that might help someone else write a better one.
Love me or hate me. Agree with me or don't.

But if we truly believe in recovery, rehabilitation and second chances, then at some point we have to allow people to become more than the worst things they've ever done.

Judge me for the person I am today because the person I once was no longer exists.

[Filter | harm reduction journalism @Filtermag_org]

Since 2018, Filter has covered harm reduction and issues intersecting the drug war. As we say goodbye, we’ll be sharing some of that coverage here.

Filter has been privileged to work with writers whose expertise made the site a resource for safer use:
https://t.co/VzmWHhc2ka

[Sarah Blyth - Gerszak @sarahblyth]

One of my staff just got bit and choked by a YouTube person. Im not happy.

[Nur Dogan @nurdogandiyorki]

Photos of the journalists killed in Gaza displayed on the sidewalk in front of the CBC building in Toronto.

Israel killed all of these journalists, yet the mainstream media remains silent.

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

I was just on CJOB Radio in Manitoba talking about why supervised consumption sites matter.
These sites don’t enable addiction, they reduce deaths caused by addiction.

One question raised was: “What happens when people die using drugs outside of these services?”

My response: People also die after completing recovery treatment, but we don’t point to those deaths and say treatment doesn’t work.
No single intervention saves everyone.
That’s why this shouldn’t be harm reduction vs. recovery.
We need BOTH.

Harm reduction keeps people alive. Recovery helps people rebuild their lives. Both save lives, and both deserve support.

Glad to see Wab Kinew supporting both.

[NDP @NDP]

It's clear who the Liberals are putting first.

Canadians deserve better than a government that is focused on helping the fossil fuel industry rake in more profits.

Avi Lewis and the NDP are fighting for a Green New Deal — a plan that will deliver climate action, lower costs and good-paying jobs.

Add your name to support our Green New Deal: https://t.co/ZtT83JDefx

[Filter | harm reduction journalism @Filtermag_org]

"Emerging evidence suggests violence perpetrated against women who use & inject drugs may be worse than previously expected," writes Samantha Colledge-Frisby of her research. Yet anti-violence policies reflect "the invisibilization of women who use drugs."
https://t.co/xfNBSjOBXU

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

Everyone has empathy when someone’s house burns down and they suddenly become homeless.
I just wish we had that same empathy for people who are already homeless.
You don’t need to know how someone lost everything to believe they deserve compassion.

[7-HOPE Alliance @7hopealliance]

🚨🚨 SOCIAL MEDIA TAKEOVER STARTS NOW! 🚨🚨

TODAY, WE ARE TAKING OVER X.

We're flooding social media with one message:

🗣️ #Save7OH

We need EVERYONE—patients, families, healthcare professionals, advocates, vendors, creators, EVERYONE—to help us make as much noise as possible.

Here's how YOU can help:

📲 1. Post using #Save7OH (EVERY post helps!)
🔁 2. Like & repost EVERYTHING from @7HOPEAlliance
💬 3. Reply to our posts so they reach even more people.
👥 4. Tag friends, family, creators, and vendors who support sensible regulation.
📸 5. Share your story.
Tell the world why you support protecting access and why prohibition isn't the answer.
🎥 6. Share the livestream throughout the day so more people hear directly from scientists, physicians, attorneys, first responders, pharmacists, veterans, patients, and advocates.
📣 7. Submit your federal comment if you haven't already—and encourage someone else to do the same!

[7-HOPE Alliance @7hopealliance]

The powerful stories we've heard today prove one thing...

THIS IS ABOUT REAL PEOPLE!! Not politics. Real families. Real patients. Real lives.
Let's make sure EVERYONE hears them!!
MAKE A UNIQUE POST.
REPOST.
COMMENT.
USE #Save7OH

[7-HOPE Alliance @7hopealliance]

The experts are speaking.

Now WE need the internet talking.

Flood X with:

📢 Why you support sensible regulation.
📢 Why prohibition isn't the answer.
📢 Why YOUR voice matters.
Every tweet counts.
#Save7OH