Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
@dsdp.ca
A group of Canadian physicians who care for people who use substances and advocate for safer, more compassionate, evidence-based healthcare policies.
We think we've been good docs this year. Check out our Christmas Wishlist 👇
December 25, 2025 at 8:33 AM
We think we've been good docs this year. Check out our Christmas Wishlist 👇
thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
"B.C. instead focused on funding policing, and treatment and recovery beds, which Lapointe said was problematic because the province is not tracking how these investments reduce overdoses, deaths or harms caused by unregulated drugs."
#bcpoli #harmreduction
"B.C. instead focused on funding policing, and treatment and recovery beds, which Lapointe said was problematic because the province is not tracking how these investments reduce overdoses, deaths or harms caused by unregulated drugs."
#bcpoli #harmreduction
Ex-BC Coroner Testifies about Failures to Prevent Toxic Drug Deaths | The Tyee
Lawyers for DULF are arguing the compassion club had to take matters into its own hands.
thetyee.ca
December 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
"B.C. instead focused on funding policing, and treatment and recovery beds, which Lapointe said was problematic because the province is not tracking how these investments reduce overdoses, deaths or harms caused by unregulated drugs."
#bcpoli #harmreduction
"B.C. instead focused on funding policing, and treatment and recovery beds, which Lapointe said was problematic because the province is not tracking how these investments reduce overdoses, deaths or harms caused by unregulated drugs."
#bcpoli #harmreduction
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
Police exhortations to be taken off mental health calls also prompt us to interrogate pushes in cities across Canada to police "disorder." The one runs counter to the other.
December 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Police exhortations to be taken off mental health calls also prompt us to interrogate pushes in cities across Canada to police "disorder." The one runs counter to the other.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/a...
"Doctors like Dr. Caroline Ferris fear that if patients they’ve stabilized are stuck all day waiting for a pharmacist to watch them take their prescriptions — which can be several pills a day — they’ll likely return to using street drugs and could overdose."
"Doctors like Dr. Caroline Ferris fear that if patients they’ve stabilized are stuck all day waiting for a pharmacist to watch them take their prescriptions — which can be several pills a day — they’ll likely return to using street drugs and could overdose."
As witness rule kicks in, addiction doctor worries patients could die
Dr. Caroline Ferris says some people may fall through the cracks when new rules requiring that use of safer supply drugs be supervised take effect Dec. 30.
www.timescolonist.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/a...
"Doctors like Dr. Caroline Ferris fear that if patients they’ve stabilized are stuck all day waiting for a pharmacist to watch them take their prescriptions — which can be several pills a day — they’ll likely return to using street drugs and could overdose."
"Doctors like Dr. Caroline Ferris fear that if patients they’ve stabilized are stuck all day waiting for a pharmacist to watch them take their prescriptions — which can be several pills a day — they’ll likely return to using street drugs and could overdose."
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
here there is a case report of someone who survived 2 non-fatal ODs
"We know that our patient received XR-Bup and his risk of fentanyl overdose should have been minimal. However, with the increasing potency of the fentanyl, it is likely that XR-Bup alone is not as effective against overdose."
"We know that our patient received XR-Bup and his risk of fentanyl overdose should have been minimal. However, with the increasing potency of the fentanyl, it is likely that XR-Bup alone is not as effective against overdose."
Opioid overdose after extended-release buprenorphine injection: a case report
Published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Encompassing All Addictive Disorders (Vol. 50, No. 1, 2024)
www.doi.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:53 PM
here there is a case report of someone who survived 2 non-fatal ODs
"We know that our patient received XR-Bup and his risk of fentanyl overdose should have been minimal. However, with the increasing potency of the fentanyl, it is likely that XR-Bup alone is not as effective against overdose."
"We know that our patient received XR-Bup and his risk of fentanyl overdose should have been minimal. However, with the increasing potency of the fentanyl, it is likely that XR-Bup alone is not as effective against overdose."
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
“I think it’s shaping up to be an unmitigated disaster."
The BC government has fast-tracked a law to skirt a constitutional challenge to involuntary treatment, and given doctors permission to force medications on youth, reports
@godfrey.bsky.social:
The BC government has fast-tracked a law to skirt a constitutional challenge to involuntary treatment, and given doctors permission to force medications on youth, reports
@godfrey.bsky.social:
BC Government Doubles Down on Forced Drug Treatment - Filter
The British Columbia government is doubling down on involuntary treatment for people who use drugs, fast-tracking a law to skirt ...
filtermag.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
“I think it’s shaping up to be an unmitigated disaster."
The BC government has fast-tracked a law to skirt a constitutional challenge to involuntary treatment, and given doctors permission to force medications on youth, reports
@godfrey.bsky.social:
The BC government has fast-tracked a law to skirt a constitutional challenge to involuntary treatment, and given doctors permission to force medications on youth, reports
@godfrey.bsky.social:
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
"It’s a classic example of governments using words to not mean what they actually mean" @dsdp.ca
filtermag.org/bc-governmen...
filtermag.org/bc-governmen...
BC Government Doubles Down on Forced Drug Treatment - Filter
The British Columbia government is doubling down on involuntary treatment for people who use drugs, fast-tracking a law to skirt ...
filtermag.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"It’s a classic example of governments using words to not mean what they actually mean" @dsdp.ca
filtermag.org/bc-governmen...
filtermag.org/bc-governmen...
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
An important community and patient perspective.
themainlander.com/2025/12/10/v...
#bcpoli #harmreduction
themainlander.com/2025/12/10/v...
#bcpoli #harmreduction
Premier Eby hazardously misrepresents Sublocade while endorsing forced treatment of youth
Extended release buprenorphine is not
themainlander.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
An important community and patient perspective.
themainlander.com/2025/12/10/v...
#bcpoli #harmreduction
themainlander.com/2025/12/10/v...
#bcpoli #harmreduction
"The provincial government didn’t seem influenced by evidence or expert advice on how to prevent overdoses after it ignored multiple recommendations from experts to create a safer drug supply that did not require a prescription."
cheknews.ca/former-chief...
#bcpoli #drugsky
cheknews.ca/former-chief...
#bcpoli #drugsky
Former chief coroner describes years of calls for changes to help toxic drug crisis
The former chief coroner for B.C. says the provincial government didn't seem influenced by evidence or expert advice on preventing overdoses because it ignored recommendations to create a safe drug su...
cheknews.ca
December 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
"The provincial government didn’t seem influenced by evidence or expert advice on how to prevent overdoses after it ignored multiple recommendations from experts to create a safer drug supply that did not require a prescription."
cheknews.ca/former-chief...
#bcpoli #drugsky
cheknews.ca/former-chief...
#bcpoli #drugsky
“There’s a lot of public misunderstanding of what decriminalization was intended to do."
Because the government put no effort or resources into properly explaining what it might reasonably do.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/d...
#bcpoli #decrim #recrim
Because the government put no effort or resources into properly explaining what it might reasonably do.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/d...
#bcpoli #decrim #recrim
Drug charges by VicPD were already in sharp decline before decriminalization: study
Researchers analyzed Victoria police data on charges for trafficking, possession and drug seizures from January 2020 to December 2023.
www.timescolonist.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
“There’s a lot of public misunderstanding of what decriminalization was intended to do."
Because the government put no effort or resources into properly explaining what it might reasonably do.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/d...
#bcpoli #decrim #recrim
Because the government put no effort or resources into properly explaining what it might reasonably do.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/d...
#bcpoli #decrim #recrim
Seems relevant that "patients appropriate for SUBLOCADE are ADULTS who have AGREED to be treated for OPIOID use
disorder."
pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00082...
#bcpoli
disorder."
pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00082...
#bcpoli
pdf.hres.ca
December 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Seems relevant that "patients appropriate for SUBLOCADE are ADULTS who have AGREED to be treated for OPIOID use
disorder."
pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00082...
#bcpoli
disorder."
pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00082...
#bcpoli
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
The DULF constitutional challenge will continue tomorrow at 9:30am. Lisa Lapointe will continue her testimony.
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
The 'compassion club' fighting Canada's drug laws | Front Burner | CBC Podcasts | CBC Listen
Through 2022 and 2023, two Vancouver activists made international headlines with DULF — the Drug User Liberation Front. In a bid to stop overdose deaths, founders Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx sold clea...
www.cbc.ca
December 10, 2025 at 4:02 AM
The DULF constitutional challenge will continue tomorrow at 9:30am. Lisa Lapointe will continue her testimony.
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
"The Minister of Health has been clear in her comments in the legislature that it is not the government’s intention to expand involuntary treatment through Bill 32."
Carefully chosen words one supposes, because just days later...
www.healthjustice.ca/blog/bill32
#bcpoli
Carefully chosen words one supposes, because just days later...
www.healthjustice.ca/blog/bill32
#bcpoli
BC is making changes to it's Mental Health Act with Bill 32 | Here's what you need to know — Health Justice
On November 25th, 2025 the BC government introduced a bill (Bill 32) to amend the Mental Health Act, which passed in the legislature on December 2nd. There has been significant debate and confusion ab...
www.healthjustice.ca
December 7, 2025 at 5:07 AM
"The Minister of Health has been clear in her comments in the legislature that it is not the government’s intention to expand involuntary treatment through Bill 32."
Carefully chosen words one supposes, because just days later...
www.healthjustice.ca/blog/bill32
#bcpoli
Carefully chosen words one supposes, because just days later...
www.healthjustice.ca/blog/bill32
#bcpoli
"BC remains the last province to use deemed consent, which presumes consent to psychiatric treatment for anyone detained under the Mental Health Act."
bc.cmha.ca/news/followi...
bc.cmha.ca/news/followi...
Following Bill 32, Protect Patients and Healthcare Workers by Modernizing the Mental Health Act - CMHA British Columbia
Victoria, BC – (December 4, 2025): This week, Bill 32 – Mental Health Amendment Act was passed in the BC Legislature, resulting in changes to BC’s Mental Health Act. The Bill removes Section 31(1), a ...
bc.cmha.ca
December 7, 2025 at 4:55 AM
"BC remains the last province to use deemed consent, which presumes consent to psychiatric treatment for anyone detained under the Mental Health Act."
bc.cmha.ca/news/followi...
bc.cmha.ca/news/followi...
"Parents who have had their child involuntarily admitted due to drug use are often left disappointed in the results.
The new guidance ... 'amounts to a bold and dark experiment...with likely disastrous consequences that might be felt for years and years to come.'"
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The new guidance ... 'amounts to a bold and dark experiment...with likely disastrous consequences that might be felt for years and years to come.'"
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Physicians must notify parents if child shows up with overlapping mental health, drug use issues: B.C. | CBC News
The B.C. government is issuing new guidance for physicians treating youth with overlapping mental health and substance use issues. It directs doctors to notify parents and potentially involuntarily de...
www.cbc.ca
December 7, 2025 at 4:35 AM
"Parents who have had their child involuntarily admitted due to drug use are often left disappointed in the results.
The new guidance ... 'amounts to a bold and dark experiment...with likely disastrous consequences that might be felt for years and years to come.'"
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The new guidance ... 'amounts to a bold and dark experiment...with likely disastrous consequences that might be felt for years and years to come.'"
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Long-acting buprenorphine injections (brand name Sublocade) are not “like a vaccine for overdose.”
December 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Long-acting buprenorphine injections (brand name Sublocade) are not “like a vaccine for overdose.”
Reposted by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
Reminder that IN REALITY the BCNDP have been trying to coerce youth into medical detention without their consent since 2020.
What Eby is saying here is an easily disproven LIE
www.squamishchief.com/local-news/s...
What Eby is saying here is an easily disproven LIE
www.squamishchief.com/local-news/s...
December 6, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Reminder that IN REALITY the BCNDP have been trying to coerce youth into medical detention without their consent since 2020.
What Eby is saying here is an easily disproven LIE
www.squamishchief.com/local-news/s...
What Eby is saying here is an easily disproven LIE
www.squamishchief.com/local-news/s...
It’s been a difficult two weeks fam. Let’s do what we can to keep our community safe. We’ll get through this. Gotta kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.
December 5, 2025 at 11:07 PM
It’s been a difficult two weeks fam. Let’s do what we can to keep our community safe. We’ll get through this. Gotta kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.
