I have found litigating the Chapman Inquest on behalf of the Empowerment Council a very emotional few weeks so far – already overwhelmed by the magnitude of the tragedy unfolding in real time around us and shocked by the lack of attention and care to the issue, including by media. And that’s after a few weeks of learning about it in a relatively academic setting. I cannot imagine how harm reduction workers on the ground feel. But I have been incredibly fortunate to work with the undisputed leader of the movement to advocate for a solution – harm reduction worker Extraordinaire Zoë Dodd. I recommend learning directly from her. Here is a good piece on her taking on the Prime Minister.
Once you become educated about the extent of the opioid overdose emergency in Canada, you cannot in good conscience remain silent. 4000 Canadians died in 2017. SARS by comparison saw 44 deaths. We are in a state of a national public health emergency and disaster. I encourage everyone to obtain Naloxone kits and training. You have no idea who will overdose in your presence when or where you can save a life that would otherwise be lost. This is your immediate personal responsibility before we can target the shocking apathy and inaction by all levels of government that can only be understood as discrimination.
The numbers of deaths are on the rise – a 16% increase so far this year over last.
And what is in the drugs is unbelievable. Here is a slide we showed the Jury of a single use of a drug the user thought was straight Fentanyl. It had more than 18 compounds in it when analyzed by the lab.
As you all likely know, the criminal defence bar lost a rising star to a fentanyl overdose death in the last two weeks.
The deaths only continue to mount.
We must exert pressure on the governments to take action.
Please educate yourself on this national disaster and do your part – care about those dying and fighting to save lives on the front lines.
#stayinthefight
Anita
anitaszigeti 