Meet some of the Vancouver DTES unsung heroes.

By Jesse Winter @jwints, re-posted from Twitter on April 17, 2020, with permission.

Meet some of the #DTES #frontlineworkers, now battling two health emergencies at once - overdoses, and #COVID19. I’m starting a portrait series to highlight some of these often #unsungheroes.

This is Thomus Donaghy, Delilah Gregg and Sharon Buchanan. Thomus and Delilah help keep people from dying of overdoses at the Molson Overdose Prevention Site and @VANDUpeople. Sharon helps the community access financial services at Pigeon Park Savings.

This is Adam Charbonneau, Angel Gates, and Sam Laudon. Adam’s a member of the Community Action Team, Sam is a peer research assistant and Angel is an advocate. All of them help give voice to people society tends to overlook.

Rodney Beamish is a supervisor at @vancouverops, which is also where Trey Helton is a manager. Shawn Giroux, in the red hoodie, is a manager at the Molson Overdose Prevention Site.

Lorna Bird (with her dog Joy), Kevin Donaghy and Hugh Lampkin all work @VANDUpeople , advocating for people who use drugs.

Chris Livingstone (wearing the mask) is a peer worker with @WAHRS, and works frequently at Oppenheimer Park. Kevin Yake is a board member and supervisor @VANDUpeople. Melanie Pratt works @Vancouverops.

An extra shout-out to @ironnieg for helping introduce me to many of the folks I’ve met so far (but have yet to photograph!).

Maybe you noticed that despite being #FrontLineHeroes lots of the folks in these photos aren't wearing PPE. I met some when they were not at work. But PPE supplies are tight all over. If you have some to spare, consider donating it (or some cash, if you can) to @DteSresponse.

Please contact Jesse if you or someone you know wants to be part of this photo project.

Jesse Winter @jwints Freelance visual journalist. Bylines and photos @Guardian, @VICE, @TorontoStar, @GlobeandMail and elsewhere Instagram: @jwintsphoto email: jessewinter@jessewinter.net

Flood: The Overdose Epidemic in Canada

There’s no sugarcoating it – Canadian lives are being taken at an alarming rate by apparent overdose-related deaths. Lives are being senselessly taken at the hands of devastating overdoses. Between January 2016 and September 2019, there have been more than 14,700 apparent opioid-related deaths. Flood: The Overdose Epidemic in Canada is a documentary that aims to reduce the stigma around substance use disorder (SUD) and inspire others to take action. "From major cities to small towns this issue has taken lives, ruined families and flooded our communities." You have been #CaughtInTheFlood

Several advocates of Moms Stop The Harm, including our co founders Leslie McBain (Pender Island, BC) and Petra Schulz (Edmonton, AB), Deb Hale-Bailey (Vancouver), Kym Porter (Medicine Hat), Sheila Jennings and Irene Paterson (Toronto) contributed to this documentary, as did many key players in the Canadian drug policy and harm reduction community.

The film makers for Flood: The Overdose Epidemic in Canada are:

Adam D'Addario

Director/Producer

Adam D’Addario is a filmmaker and our director. Adam began filmmaking at a young age, and taught himself how to produce and edit videos. Adam is passionate about not only his films, but about giving others a voice. He started Flood by setting out to direct and produce an independent documentary from the perspectives of those affected by the Overdose Epidemic.

Kirsten Rowe

Assistant Director

Kirsten Rowe is a filmmaker and our assistant director. Her passion began in elementary school when she began making stop-motion films about important Canadian issues. After having the ability to attend a Governor General’s dinner to address the issues shown in her films, she realized the impact that could be made through this medium.

Stefano D'Addario

Production Manager

Stefano D'Addario is the Production Manager for Flood: The Overdose Epidemic in Canada. He is also Adam's older brother. Stefano completed his degree in Marketing at Humber College and is working towards a degree at York University. He became involved in the project after attending a protest in Toronto, Ontario.

Connect with the Flood team via their Facebook page.

Information and resources on COVID-19

As you try to cope with #COVID19 we will work on providing resources and information that is critical for people who use drugs. Thank you to Interior Health in BC for sharing many of these resources.

The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition has a web page dedicated to COVID-19 resources, which is updated on an on-going basis. You can also sign up for their newsletter and find out who to donate to.

BCCDC COVID19 Vulnerable Populations: People who use substances - information for clients and service providers on prevention while using substances. Also included the latest on reducing overdose risk and overdose response in the context of COVID19.

BCCDC COVID 19 Vulnerable Populations: People who are unsheltered -  information on protecting yourself and others when you are unsheltered.

BC Housing COVID19 page: posters, resources and a specific section for Homeless Service Providers.

Interior Health COVID19 page - One stop shop for COVID19 information in Interior Health

Health Canada: Guidance for providers of services for people experiencing homelessness: in the context of COVID-19

Maggie’s - Sex Work and COVID19 - Guidelines for Sex Workers, Third Parties and Allies  This is an Ontario-based publication so information on services and processes to follow will not be the same here but information on protective guidelines is well-done and applicable here. 

Outreach Guidelines During COVID-19: produced by the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network and partners. Practical tips to help outreach staff continue to do their important work.      

Harm Reduction Coalition - Syringe Services and Harm Reduction Provider Operations During the COVID-19 Outbreak  US-based publication but most of the information is applicable here. Information for clients on what COVID-19 is and how to protect yourself and others. Recommendations for service providers on how to deliver services and in the context of COVID-19. 

Yale Program - Guidance for People Who Use Substances on COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) - US-based resource. Practical information for people who use drugs to protect themselves, and reduce risk and manage the potential of experiencing withdrawal.

Scottish Drugs Forum - Information on COVID-19 - The Guidance is not meant to replace local contingency planning but to aid further development with regard to meeting specific challenging issues that areas are likely to be faced over the coming months.

It should not take a pandemic...

By Stress Management Cat [Twitter name], re-posted from Twitter on March 30, 2020, with permission. Stress Management Cat is a person with lived experience in the GTA who reflects on their and their partner’s experience during the #COVID19 pandemic.

Canadian healthcare can be like a weird adventure game where you have to navigate various puzzles and obstacles to find the secret item that will allow you to reach the final objective. After years of dealing with Ontario healthcare systems Bear and I finally found good care.

Like the 8 month search for an apartment we could afford that would actually rent to us, a lifetime of navigating unhealthy relationships for both of us before meeting, life on our level of society is fraught with obstacles a lucky scant few can get around. It's no way to live.

I don't know what gives us the stubbornness and luck combined that we ever find the things we need. Like a doctor that prescribes the medicine we need in the manner we actually take it. We went through two other doctors and combined spent almost a decade in OST to get this.

There were lots if times when giving up seemed like the way to go. It's been a rough ride up until now, but we've kept beating at it hoping eventually it would pay off to be patient. We finally reached our goal, nobody overdosed, got endocarditis or went to jail on the way.

This is why the system fails so often. Because along the way, before they climbed the mountain, slayed the monster, found the magic wand and then invoked the spirits who point the way they say "this is never gonna work". I didn't know if it would, I just kept assuring my partner.

We came home and Bear almost immediately collapsed in bed, and now sleeps the kind of sleep you can only finally have when you're certain you'll have medication that mostly works for the foreseeable future. It's been awhile, I'd be surprised if he doesn't sleep all night.

The only reason we have a shot at getting the real proper medication for Bear is *because of the pandemic*. If methadone isn't effective it is finally an option to prescribe hydromorphone. It's a shame it had to come to this. It's kinda confusing feeling good about this mess.

The overdose epidemic didn't get us open access to medication. I left a urine sample for the last time in the foreseeable future, and that was because handling and exchanging cups of urine in a pandemic is just poor infection control practice. It took thousands of other deaths.

When suddenly our monitoring and observed doses became a potential transmission vector it was no longer necessary. The longer scripts are meant to keep us from travelling. The reason we're being given concessions is to keep us from moving around and protect others, not us.

As much as it's frustrating that the changes come both at such a difficult time for everyone, and for reasons more focused on literally everyone else rather than us as patients, I'll take the longer scripts. I didn't really want another five weeks of this crap anyway.

I hope these reforms don't get clawed back. In a sense we have a big experiment in patient self determination right now. A lot of people being given more leeway than usual. If there aren't increased harms as a result it's difficult to argue the old more expensive way is better.

Between less urine screening, less trips to pharmacies and less unnecessary trips to the doctor we are saving OHIP thousands of dollars per patient over the course of months. All that testing a frequent dispensing is very costly. This is an enormous cost savings happening.

I think when the province can be shown the loosened prescribing practices are not only more effective at diverting users from the street, but cost far less, it will be easy to push permanent change. Saving the healthcare system millions after a huge pandemic will seem attractive

MSTH AGM 2020 in Edmonton has been postponed to 2021

This has been a heartbreaking, but essential decision for our organizing team.

We will be sending out information on a virtual meeting for May 30th, 2020 for the AGM portion only (Board reports, financial reports and elections), but there will be no onsite meeting in Edmonton in May of this year due to the physical distancing requirements to contain the spread of COVID19.

We hope to reschedule with the same exciting schedule for 2021 and will be sending out a “save the date” once restrictions are lifted.

Those of you who have paid registration can use that registration for 2021 or request a refund by emailing info@momsstoptheharm.com.

All awarded scholarships can be used for the 2021 meeting.

If you booked flights, please contact your airline, as most allow you to convert your ticket to a future travel voucher (check on rules how soon it has to be booked, typically within one year).

Hotel reservations can be cancelled without penalty with the hotel directly.

We appreciate your support and understanding in these difficult times.

Stay safe, stay healthy, look after each other.

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