Supervised Consumption Saves Lives - Barrie

We are concerned citizens of Barrie and the surrounding area who support direct action aimed at destigmatizing drug use and preventing overdose deaths.

[Supervised Consumption Saves Lives - Barrie @SavesSupervised]

We are no longer active on this account, or on Twitter/X at all.

Visit our parent org for updates at https://t.co/hZAazYQJv5

[Supervised Consumption Saves Lives - Barrie @SavesSupervised]

We’ve got a couple of media releases shared on the @EngageBarrie blog about the province’s closure and new restrictions for Supervised Consumption Sites – also a letter you can send to the province!

Please visit https://t.co/bMtqr7SBwr
and https://t.co/JlTZb62ipf
for the links.

[Ahmed Ali @DrAhmednurAli]

Ontario’s reckless policy choice to shut down safe consumption sites will cost lives. Harm reduction saves people — this decision puts them in danger.

[Mike Schreiner @MikeSchreiner]

Harm reduction saves lives.

That is why Ontario needs supervised consumption and treatment sites and supportive housing and accessible treatment options for people in addictions recovery.

This is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive response.

#onpoli

[Marit Stiles @MaritStiles]

When so many Ontarians and their loved ones have been affected by the opioid epidemic, we should use every tool we have to save lives.

Ford’s decision to take away proven supports during this crisis is callous, and utterly fails to meet the moment we’re in.

[Engage Barrie Organization @EngageBarrie]

TOMORROW: Support Don't Punish - global day of action to end the "war on drugs" and build sustainable alternatives that uphold rights and dignity.

Barrie City Hall, starting 6pm.

For more information, visit https://t.co/9frQMa2lQZ

#SupportDontPunish #harmreductionishealthcare

[Engage Barrie Organization @EngageBarrie]

We are devastated to share the heartbreaking news that the applicants for Barrie's Supervised Consumption Site / Consumption Treatment Services Site have made the difficult decision to withdraw their application.

For more details, please visit https://t.co/QEnNH2kyN5

[Engage Barrie Organization @EngageBarrie]

Sorry for the late notice, but on TUESDAY AFTERNOON, our friends at the Ontario Health Coalition are hosting a Public Hearing at the downtown Library on protecting and improving our local hospitals.

For more information, please visit https://t.co/0wG8kKxILk

[Engage Barrie Organization @EngageBarrie]

An amendment made on Wednesday gave "Safe Barrie" (the group formed to fight #Barrie's #SCS/#CTS ) a seat at the #CommunitySafety and Well-Being Plan Committee.

We have many concerns – thank you to Brandon for encapsulating them so succinctly! https://t.co/D5YC9DtOAt

[Engage Barrie Organization @EngageBarrie]

Reminder: our March Members Meeting was bumped to Thurs, April 4, 5:30pm (virtual).

This month includes a follow-up on last week's day of action to save Ontario's #SCS / #CTS, & (non-) reaction from the province to @CANdrugpolicy's open letter.

Details: https://t.co/zufyKUsCej

[Reverend Christine Nayler @ChrisNayler]

We will continue to use our collective voices to hold the provincial government accountable! While they delay our loved ones die! We can't wait!
#saveONscs
#RyansHope
#MSTH
#onpoli

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

There was a post on here a few days ago calling some people in the harm reduction world “sellouts to recovery.”

It accused these sellouts of sitting at home and enjoying their abstinence with their kids while not demanding from others the same kind of “accountability” they had to experience to recover.

Some of you think it was about me, but that’s obviously ridiculous.

Because I DID use harm reduction before I found recovery (and I’ve never been shy about sharing that part of my story … lol)😂

Records show I visited Insite for supervised consumption more than 4,000 times over a 10-year period, and I accessed unsanctioned programs before then. I tried recovery and relapsed dozens of times. I overdosed and was saved thanks to harm reduction services 6 times.

For me, “accountability” without harm reduction would have been death. Six times over.

I advocate for people to have the exact same life-saving opportunities I had, especially with the drugs today being 100x more potent, addictive and deadly than the ones I was using.

I’m not a sellout to anything that worked for me, nor to anything that I didn’t try. Because unlike the X user who created that post, I understand that everyone’s substance use & recovery journey is DIFFERENT; I have care and respect for others, so I don’t expect everyone to follow the exact pathway I did OR ELSE DIE; and I have a better understanding of of the toxic drug crisis … I know there’s no silver bullet.

So while I appreciate your concerns, NOPE. That post could not have been about me 😂

#ToxicDrugCrisis #HarmReduction #Recovery #BCpoli

[Ben Perrin @profbenperrin]

The @nationalpost makes mistake of thinking there are only 2 options: "soft-on-crime" or "tough-on-crime" - neither work

As I show in "Indictment" , we need a new transformative justice system that prevents crime, addresses root causes, reduces recidivism and is evidence-based

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

Do we blame treatment & recovery programs for people not maintaining sobriety? 🤔🤔

Many people on the streets have tried treatment before. Often many times. (In my case, dozens of times before it “took.”)

But we don’t blame recovery because the toxic drug crisis is still ongoing. There are no angry protests out there about failing treatment programs. We understand this crisis is complicated, especially when the drugs are so poisonous, and addiction is a chronic relapsing condition.

So why do people say harm reduction is “failing”?

It’s not. Harm reduction services like drug checking, supervised consumption, provision of clean supplies, attachment to health care, social services and treatment, decrim and safer supply reduce injuries & disease & save lives EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Harm reduction is succeeding.

Has it solved the toxic drug crisis?

HOW COULD IT?

The toxic drug crisis won’t end until the drugs aren’t toxic.

In the meantime, harm reduction gonna keep reducing harm.

Treatment & recovery gonna keep treating and keep recovering.

#ToxicDrugCrisis #HarmReduction #Treatment #Recovery #BCpoli

[Canadian Drug Policy Coalition @CANdrugpolicy]

🚨Missed the online briefing on Ontario's toxic drug crisis and the impending closures of supervised consumption sites? Watch the recorded event now!

🌐Stay informed & share our open letter to add your voice to the call for immediate provincial support: https://t.co/jducfjD3xS

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

It’s no secret that we’re seeing a rise in “conservative values” all over North America.

The widespread FICTION that harm reduction is to blame for skyrocketing rates of drug poisoning has led conservative policymakers in some jurisdictions to cancel valuable HR programs.

So now the rate of death in those places is climbing faster than ever before.

Looking for something else to blame, in Alberta, they’re saying BC’s tiny prescribed safer supply program is causing the death & destruction in that province, which is ridiculous. Increasingly poisoned fentanyl is causing death & destruction all over North America. NOT SAFER SUPPLY.

@PierrePoilievre says if elected, the first thing he’ll do is cancel funding for safer supply.

Cancelling harm reduction programs, decriminalization, and safer supply WILL NOT reduce deaths from toxic drugs, it will lead to more.

SO TELL ME: What will they blame when these programs are cancelled but the deaths, disorder and public safety issues only continue to worsen?

THEN WILL THEY FINALLY ADMIT IT’S THE TOXIC DRUG SUPPLY?! #toxicdrugcrisis #cdnpoli #harmreductionsaveslives

[SMDHU @SMDhealthunit]

Alert: A new substance, Medetomidine/dexmedetomidine, is being found in the unregulated drug supply that can cause increased sedation and slow down breathing and heart rate. If alone, call the National Overdose Response line, – 1 888 688 6677. https://t.co/WMK7wlpBHt

[Engage Barrie Organization @EngageBarrie]

As suspected, the “motion without notice” had plenty of notice – at least for some. What happened to the Strategic Priority of “Responsible Governance - ensure accountability and transparency” @cityofbarrie ??

https://t.co/rQUYIYXeqh

#barrie

[guyfelicella🇨🇦🍁 @guyfelicella]

I don't know who needs to hear this today: 🗣️📢
Anti-harm reduction activists are essentially saying, “Your life matters only if you follow the same moral code as me (aka abstinence-only).” Harm reduction supporters are essentially saying, “Your life matters. Period.”

[SMDHU @SMDhealthunit]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜. Drug Checking is one way to help people who use drugs stay as safe as possible. A CTS site can provide drug-checking services to help make informed decisions about substance use.