iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 18/09/2026

Next week! Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The substance use health network is hosting a dope webinar series on hospital based ops/scs. Moderator Dr. Tommy Brothers. Drs. Jess Wilder and Ryan Herriot will be presenting on insanctuoned ops on Vancouver island. September 2. 9 am pacific.

Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 17/07/2026

We are grateful to co-host this upcoming webinar on Thursday August 13th, 2026, at 12pm PST with @hrna.bsky.social and Caitlin Shane, staff lawyer at @pivotlegalsociety.bsky.social. REGISTER HERE: tinyurl.com/3da7j4p2 #bcpoli #harmreduction

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 12/06/2026

It was a beautiful sunny day to come together in community and solidarity with our unhoused neighours. As the city steps up sweeps - no matter what it calls them - we're trying to "provide the services that the city should be providing in these circumstances." #yyj

Some bad hombres sharing a laugh while setting up for some good ol' fashioned harm reduction.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 01/04/2026

We are creating space in the Naming a Crisis exhibit for healthcare workers to participate by sharing messages about their experiences in the crisis.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 29/03/2026

The Victoria Arts Council will be putting on a fantastic show full of both art and events at the Bay Centre from April 7 to 26. namingacrisis.ca/april-exhibit/ #bcpoli #harmreduction

Victoria Arts Council presents Naming a Crisis Community Art Show, Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street, April 7 to 26.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 25/12/2025

We think we've been good docs this year. Check out our Christmas Wishlist 👇

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 28/11/2025

Thank you @robbotterell.bsky.social for bringing @hrna.bsky.social and our words to the heart of the debate on @davidebybc.bsky.social's plans to expand involuntary treatment and pre-empt the results of a longstanding charter challenge by disability rights groups and others. #harmreduction #bcpoli

Screenshot from "Committee of the Whole" on "Bill 32 — Mental Health
Amendment Act (No. 2), 2025" in the BC legislature. Text reads: "The B.C. Human Rights Commissioner stated that involuntary treatment for substance use violates autonomy and self-determination, disproportionately harms Indigenous, Black, disabled, gender-diverse and low-income people, lacks evidentiary support and cannot be justified when B.C.’s voluntary community-based system is profoundly under-resourced.

In a joint letter, Harm Reduction Nurses Association and Doctors for Safer Drug Policy write that compulsory substance use treatment is ineffective and dangerous. They state — and I’m coming to a question:

'The evidence is clear and consistent. Compulsory treatment has no demonstrated long-term benefit. Relapse rates are extraordinarily high. One study reported 96.4 percent relapse within two months after mandated treatment. The risks of overdose and death are significantly elevated immediately after discharge from compulsory treatment.

Involuntary settings sever trust, increase trauma and escalate risk. Leading human rights scholars have concluded that mass detention for treatment constitutes a grave violation of human rights and cannot be justified by claims of substance use disorder alone.

'As research and our clinical experience demonstrate, people are most vulnerable to overdose after periods of forced abstinence. Coercion increases risk; it does not reduce it.'"

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 26/11/2025

We Refuse: Health Workers Against Involuntary Care is now public. @hrna.bsky.social and DSDP are circulating a joint statement opposing BC’s plan to expand involuntary drug treatment. This approach is ineffective, increases overdose risk, violates autonomy, and harms marginalized communities.

A raised fist, clenched in power. Text reads: "WE REFUSE: Health Workers Against Involuntary Care. A joint statement and call to action from Harm Reduction Nurses Association and Doctors for Safer Drug Policy."

Below that are logos for HRNA and DSDP.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 25/11/2025

You know you are on the right side of medical ethics when you need to get a law amended just to shield you from lawsuits for your activities. #bcpoli

The BC government’s rushed proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 27/09/2025

We are running an OPS outside RJH today! Come on down to see what the fuss is about! The government still hasn’t followed through on its commitment to fund three OPS at Island hospitals. #bcpoli #harmreduction

Volunteers hang out with snacks and harm reduction supplies. A Doctors for Safer Drug Policy banner flies proudly.

Overdose Prevention Site tents and banners just outside Royal Jubilee Hospital.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

Extra special thanks to @jaythecree for his incredible hoop dancing performance which closed out the Victoria event with a feeling of positivity and hope.

Jay the Cree gives an incredible hoop dancing performance which closed out the Victoria event with a feeling of positivity and hope.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

Enough is enough. And this weekend, we said so. We are so thankful for the many volunteers who made all these events possible. Special thanks to our allies @momsstoptheharm for being such a voice of power.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

We want evidence-based policy. We need harm reduction. We need people with lived experience to be given a voice to lead policy. We want our government to focus on social determinants of health.

Members look on as our speakers bring down the hammer. One of our doctors holds a sign that shows one of the things that is killing our patients: "Lack of Safe Supply."

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

Policies that speakers Hoon and Jan Mahoney shared had affected their lives in devastating ways.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

On Labour Day we closed out the weekend of IOAD events at the BC Legislature, where we hosted an emotional gathering to grieve the loss of so many of our loved ones to bad government policy and to demand better. We heard from former BC Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe, and our own Dr. Kelsey Roden.

One of our co-founders, Dr. Kelsey Roden, tells the government what we need.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

Die in on September 1, 2025. B.C. legislature. We need an expansion of harm reduction services including more OPS, more sterile equipment, more (not less) access to safe supply. Bring back decrim, but bigger and better. End so-called "involuntary treatment," i.e. forced abstinence.

Blood on the hands of the BC Government.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

This #IOAD, we laid the truth, and our bodies, at the BC Government's feet. #bcpoli #harmreduction

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/09/2025

Jay Genaille aka Jay the Hoop Dancer aka Jay the Cree gave an incredible performance at our #IOAD event in #Victoria.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 21/08/2025

Come join us! At many cities across B.C., but here is the Victoria event poster. Demand what we all need to keep people alive. #bcpoli #harmreduction

Poster for International Overdose Awareness Day. The official day is August 31, but this year Doctors for Safer Drug Policy and Moms Stop the Harm are co-organizing a die in on September 1. 11 am to 1pm. Across many cities in British Columbia, but in Victoria at the legislature. Email info@DSDP.ca if you have more questions.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 04/07/2025

Is @vanislandhealth.bsky.social engaging in hostile architecture by removing longstanding sitting benches from Royal Jubilee Hospital’s smoking area? #bcpoli #harmreduction

A smoking area outside of RJH. The garbage can remains but the sitting benches have been removed.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 26/06/2025

Happening now! Location: Online [Zoom]: www.eventbrite.ca/.../care-not.... Speakers from across the country will join us to address a variety of intersecting themes, topics, and communities, including (but certainly not limited to): harm reduction; drug policy; drug user rights and more...

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 24/06/2025

@hivlegalnetwork.bsky.social and @hracollective.bsky.social are co-hosting a series of incredible speakers from across the country to mark the annual Global Day of Action! REGISTER HERE: www.eventbrite.ca/e/care-not-c... #SupportDontPunish #HarmReduction #CareNotCriminalization

Support Don't Punish. Care Not Criminalization. June 26. 1PM Pacific time.

All the many group logos of participating groups: MSTHL, CSSDP, CDPC, HRNA, DSDP, and many others.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 09/06/2025

Support. Don't Punish. Care, not criminalization. June 26, 1PM Pacific Time. Hosted by HRAC.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 14/04/2025

“Dead People Don’t Recover.” A unicorn told us so. #bcpoli

It’s an OPS. It’s sunny. The grass is green. An adorable toddler wears a unicorn suit and holds a sign that reads “dead people don’t recover.” Overdose prevention sites are safe spaces for children.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 14/04/2025

The family that harm reductions together…

Perfectly behaved children, doing harm reduction.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 13/04/2025

“Give me some doggone harm reduction!”

Our loveable canine mascot, doing harm reduction.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 13/04/2025

It is a beautiful day to provide vital health care services. #harmreduction

Dr. Kelsey Roden stands in front of our overdose prevention site at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. It’s a beautiful sunny day. Hand painted signs read “harm reduction saves lives” and “saving lives is not controversial.”

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 13/04/2025

Come down tomorrow to RJH in Victoria or NRGH in Nanaimo to join Doctors for Safer Drug Policy in our dual pop-up OPS. Victoria site hours: 10am-6pm Nanaimo site hours: 10am-2pm Harm reduction saves lives. And saving lives is not controversial.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 13/04/2025

More of our very own Dr Jill Wiwcharuk at Peers Victoria's #toxicdrugcrisis speaker series, speaking to the basic pain we all feel about the political interference in our little area of health care. #bcpoli #harmreduction

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 07/04/2025

Our very own Dr Jill Wiwcharuk at Peers Victoria's #toxicdrugcrisis speaker series, telling the bare truth about the inhumanity our patients face, and the bare minimum that could be done to make life somewhat more bearable. #bcpoli #harmreduction

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 22/02/2025

Share this post and tag: @josieosborne.bsky.social @davidebybc.bsky.social @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social So that they can hear from you. This is neither Truth nor Reconciliation.

When government decisions are made about matters that affect Indigenous communities disproportionately, without including the voices of Indigenous people in the discussion, this is systemic racism.

When government decisions are made that will lead to increased harms and death to our Indigenous neighbours, this is systemic violence and genocide.

We are calling on the government to consider the ramifications of their impulsive, non-evidence-based decision to suddenly discontinue unwitnessed prescribed safer alternatives, and the disproportionate impact this will have on rural and Indigenous communities.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 19/02/2025

Doctors and Moms…an unstoppable alliance!

Doctors and Moms holding colourful signs with pro harm reduction slogans in front of a badass OPS near Royal Jubilee Hospital.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 19/02/2025

We're back for day two! Today, February 19th, from 10 am to 6 pm, an Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) will be available at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. You can find us on Richmond Road between Haultain Street and Adanac Street in Victoria, BC. Find us here 🗺️ maps.app.goo.gl/mZFErqfp4Py7...

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 18/02/2025

We’re live today and tomorrow in Victoria! Come say hi! maps.app.goo.gl/mZFErqfp4Py7... #harmreduction #bcpoli

Doctors from DSDP stand alongside Leslie McBain of Moms Stop the Harm and former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe at their newest pop up overdose prevention site in Victoria!

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 26/01/2025

More great team shots from our action last week in Courtenay! The ENTIRE set of the Comox Valley's addiction medicine physicians came out to volunteer - that's how universally it is understood by the experts that this is needed. @josieosborne.bsky.social

Many addiction doctors, wearing white coats and holding signs in front of a green, stand up supervised consumption tent, itself in front of North Island Hospital - Comox Valley.

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Doctors for Safer Drug Policy @dsdp.ca · 26/01/2025

@canadiangreens.bsky.social candidate @chrismarkevich.bsky.social stopped by in Courtenay last week as well. Just look at that smile! He's happy because he knows that safe, welcoming, caring spaces for all make everyone's lives better. #cndpoli #bcpoli #harmreduction