Olivia Mancini, MSW
@xlivmarie.bsky.social
Drug policy | Advocate for harm reduction, safe supply, decriminalization, legal regulation and the right to housing | Opinions are my own | Co-founder of @sopenhamilton
Join us for an accessible wound care training where you will learn basics of wound care with both basic and specialized supplies to better support wound care for either yourself or your community members. Part of a community care series. You will go home with wound care kit.
May 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Join us for an accessible wound care training where you will learn basics of wound care with both basic and specialized supplies to better support wound care for either yourself or your community members. Part of a community care series. You will go home with wound care kit.
Ontario has reintroduced Bill 6, which will punish encampments even though people have nowhere else to go. That's why we've formed the Encampment Justice Coalition. We're asking Ontario to rescind Bill 6 and commit to housing — not punishment. Read more: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6
May 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Ontario has reintroduced Bill 6, which will punish encampments even though people have nowhere else to go. That's why we've formed the Encampment Justice Coalition. We're asking Ontario to rescind Bill 6 and commit to housing — not punishment. Read more: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6
What they are leaving out of this article is the new eligibility requirements - people who use drugs or people who have a criminal record will not be allowed to access rooms at the YMCA.
www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...
www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...
Out of the ashes: YMCA reimagines men’s residence after devastating fire
The blaze spurred a shift toward wraparound supports for vulnerable tenants navigating health and housing.
www.thespec.com
December 27, 2024 at 7:27 PM
What they are leaving out of this article is the new eligibility requirements - people who use drugs or people who have a criminal record will not be allowed to access rooms at the YMCA.
www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...
www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
When you criminalize drug use or possession in public spaces but maintain decriminalization for those who can do drugs in the privacy of their own homes, what you're actually criminalizing is homelessness.
December 24, 2024 at 1:14 PM
When you criminalize drug use or possession in public spaces but maintain decriminalization for those who can do drugs in the privacy of their own homes, what you're actually criminalizing is homelessness.
The city’s lawyer was relentless during cross-examination, leaving me in tears. Grateful that encampment residents had strong support today. Please show up tomorrow and Wednesday!
Court Support Continues: Tuesday, and Wednesday! Update: the Courthouse was over capacity today. Thank you to everyone that showed up for Hamilton’s unhoused folks. The Judge instructed the court to find a bigger room for tomorrow. Let’s let the system know that no room is big enough.
December 16, 2024 at 9:18 PM
The city’s lawyer was relentless during cross-examination, leaving me in tears. Grateful that encampment residents had strong support today. Please show up tomorrow and Wednesday!
Years ago I quit my job at the Sally to write an affidavit in support of encampment residents exposing the harms the shelter system causes to people use drugs, people who have disabilities and people with mental illness. Please show up 💕
Urgent Court Support: On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Encampment Residents are taking Hamilton to court to defend their Charter Rights. Come out to support your neighbours!
Room info may change, but on the Daily Court List: 10 AM in Courtroom 702,
45 Main St E, Hamilton
Room info may change, but on the Daily Court List: 10 AM in Courtroom 702,
45 Main St E, Hamilton
December 14, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Years ago I quit my job at the Sally to write an affidavit in support of encampment residents exposing the harms the shelter system causes to people use drugs, people who have disabilities and people with mental illness. Please show up 💕
I’m grateful for the opportunity to help co-author a report addressing the toxic drug crisis, amplifying the voices of those most affected and advocating for meaningful change.
🧵Today, we’re launching "Getting to Tomorrow: 7 Actions to End the Unregulated Drug Crisis".
This report presents key opportunities for action to address the toxic drug crisis affecting communities across Canada. #GettingToTomorrow
Read the report: drugpolicy.ca/about/public...
This report presents key opportunities for action to address the toxic drug crisis affecting communities across Canada. #GettingToTomorrow
Read the report: drugpolicy.ca/about/public...
Getting to Tomorrow: 7 Actions to End the Unregulated Drug Crisis - Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
In fall 2020, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition launched a three-year cross-Canada project to engage with those most impacted by current drug policies. We met with harm reduction organizations, First...
drugpolicy.ca
December 5, 2024 at 4:07 PM
I’m grateful for the opportunity to help co-author a report addressing the toxic drug crisis, amplifying the voices of those most affected and advocating for meaningful change.
“Opioids have now emerged as a leading cause of preventable death in Hamilton.
Among Hamiltonians aged 20 to 44, the No. 1 cause of death is unintentional poisoning, which includes swallowing, inhaling, absorbing or injecting any substance.”
www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...
Health, wealth and inequality: 14 years after Code Red, disparities in Hamilton are getting worse
City’s Community Health Status Report finds inequity gap is widening
www.thespec.com
November 28, 2024 at 2:44 AM
“Opioids have now emerged as a leading cause of preventable death in Hamilton.
Among Hamiltonians aged 20 to 44, the No. 1 cause of death is unintentional poisoning, which includes swallowing, inhaling, absorbing or injecting any substance.”
www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
Perfect holiday present for the Harm reductionist on your list! #drugsky
I received a test pressing of my book - called a galley. Out in April 2025, but you can pre-order. Because of low vision, I was late to reading & still have trouble spelling. I read my first real book when I was 16. I never thought I'd be responsible for writing one. www.amazon.ca/Crackdown-Su...
November 23, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Perfect holiday present for the Harm reductionist on your list! #drugsky
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
November 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
“Overdose prevention services should be implemented in hospitals immediately for the safety of us all.”
Excellent letter in the @timescolonist.bsky.social by Heather Hobbs.
#bcpoli
Excellent letter in the @timescolonist.bsky.social by Heather Hobbs.
#bcpoli
www.timescolonist.com/opinion/lett...
Great letter in Friday's @timescolonist.bsky.social!
"165,000-225,000 British Columbians from all walks of life will access the unregulated drug market throughout any 12 months, including about half who do not have a substance use disorder"
Great letter in Friday's @timescolonist.bsky.social!
"165,000-225,000 British Columbians from all walks of life will access the unregulated drug market throughout any 12 months, including about half who do not have a substance use disorder"
Letters Nov. 22: Winter clothing; Eby's cabinet; McKenzie traffic
www.timescolonist.com
November 24, 2024 at 7:22 PM
“Overdose prevention services should be implemented in hospitals immediately for the safety of us all.”
Excellent letter in the @timescolonist.bsky.social by Heather Hobbs.
#bcpoli
Excellent letter in the @timescolonist.bsky.social by Heather Hobbs.
#bcpoli
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
Our new commentary on the importance of engaging families in the public health response to the toxic drug crisis. 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/QEAQE...
cc: @hollymathias.bsky.social @msthpetra.bsky.social @kokumsarah.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/QEAQE...
cc: @hollymathias.bsky.social @msthpetra.bsky.social @kokumsarah.bsky.social
Including Families in a Response to the Unregulated Toxic Drug Crisis: A Call to Action
The unregulated toxic drug crisis continues to be an urgent health issue in North America. Many families of people who use drugs have been significantly impacted by this issue. In addition to the t...
www.tandfonline.com
November 21, 2024 at 10:59 PM
Our new commentary on the importance of engaging families in the public health response to the toxic drug crisis. 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/QEAQE...
cc: @hollymathias.bsky.social @msthpetra.bsky.social @kokumsarah.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/QEAQE...
cc: @hollymathias.bsky.social @msthpetra.bsky.social @kokumsarah.bsky.social
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
Two temporary overdose prevention sites run by independent doctors and supported by harm reduction organizations have opened this week just outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.
Doctors Open Two Pop-up Overdose Prevention Sites at Island Hospitals | The Tyee
The solution to patients using illicit drugs in unsafe ways is to offer safer alternatives, advocates say.
thetyee.ca
November 18, 2024 at 10:07 PM
Two temporary overdose prevention sites run by independent doctors and supported by harm reduction organizations have opened this week just outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.
The decision to close Supervised Consumption Sites (SCS) is not rooted in evidence — it is a form of social eugenics. Closing SCS will lead to increased harm, including increased drug poisonings, overdoses and deaths among people who use drugs who rely on these services for survival.
"I want to be very clear, there will be no further safe injection sites in the province of Ontario under our government." — Health Minister Sylvia Jones #onpoli
Ontario tables bill that bans supervised consumption sites near schools, daycares | TVO Today
The bill would also require municipalities to get the health minister's approval to apply for an exemption from the federal government to launch new supervised consumption sites
amp.tvo.org
November 18, 2024 at 11:08 PM
The decision to close Supervised Consumption Sites (SCS) is not rooted in evidence — it is a form of social eugenics. Closing SCS will lead to increased harm, including increased drug poisonings, overdoses and deaths among people who use drugs who rely on these services for survival.
Reposted by Olivia Mancini, MSW
#NEW: Doctors trying to set up volunteer overdose prevention site outside Royal Jubilee Hospital told to leave hospital grounds by security and Island Health reps. Docs say this is a life saving intervention that’d also address in hospital drug use.
Story TK for @filtermag.bsky.social
Story TK for @filtermag.bsky.social
November 18, 2024 at 5:19 PM
#NEW: Doctors trying to set up volunteer overdose prevention site outside Royal Jubilee Hospital told to leave hospital grounds by security and Island Health reps. Docs say this is a life saving intervention that’d also address in hospital drug use.
Story TK for @filtermag.bsky.social
Story TK for @filtermag.bsky.social