guyfelicella
@guyfelicella
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Harm Reduction & Recovery Expert. Courage to Come Back Award Recipient. Overcame homelessness & addiction. Inspirational Speaker Opinions are my own.
Vancouver
Joined October 2018
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Not bad for a "Guy" who had to brought back to life 6 times & struggled with homelessness & addiction for decades in
#dtes
. I wouldn't be alive today without harm reduction AND I wouldn't have the life I have today without my recovery. First party of 5
#family
photo.
#WeDoRecover
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I don't know who needs to hear this: 🗣️ The main driver of homelessness isn't drugs or drug use, it's poverty, evictions and lack of access to proper housing.
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To the lady who stopped on Christmas Day 11 years ago while I slept in this doorway (across from the West Hotel at Pender & Carrall in the DTES) to give me a Tims coffee, a hug, and 50 bucks … please reach out if you remember me!
I want to THANK YOU. You gave me hope in a very
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People don't need to be sober & drug-free to deserve food, shelter and kindness! ❤️❤️
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In 2010 - when I was in recovery - I met a beautiful woman and fell in love, but the odds and a lot of people were against us. I was devastated and went back to doing what I did best: using drugs to numb the pain, and running away.
Three years later she was driving down
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At 12 I started using drugs.
At 14 I was incarcerated and made a ward of the court.
At 16 I joined a gang & bounced through foster care.
By 18, I was already fully immersed in crime, drugs & prison.
By 23, I was fully addicted & homeless & facing multiple near fatal medical
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Supervised consumption sites don’t “enable” drug use, they provide health care for people who are already using drugs. You shouldn’t have to be drug free to access health care! My last overdose was at booth 5 and I’m now over a decade sober. That wouldn’t be possible without harm
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Anti-harm reductionists in one pic.
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I often think about this: I did a highschool talk where I told students "drug users aren't bad ppl, they often face challenging circumstances." A 16 year old came up to me and said, "thank you for saying drug users aren't bad ppl. My dad died of an overdose but I don't tell
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10 years ago I made a decision to try and go one day without using drugs.
That one day has now turned into a decade off meth, coke, heroin, cannabis and alcohol. Thanks to everyone who has supported me through it all I am truly humbled and grateful.
#Wedorecover
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How this amazing woman became part of my life:
In 2010 I was sober for a year and when we met. I relapsed and went back to the DTES. I had no contact with her until 2 years later she saw me on the street, ran up and gave me a hug and said, “This is not who you are. I know who you
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The first sanctioned supervised consumption site in North America is in Vancouver.
It’s called Insite and it opened in September 2003. Staff there have reversed about 12,000 overdoses, and referred people to treatment and health care services over 70,000 times, AT THIS ONE SITE
Justin Trudeau refuses to call his "safe" injection sites for what they are: DRUG DENS.
Common sense Conservatives will ban hard drugs & support recovery to bring your loved ones home, drug-free. Sign if you agree:
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If you drink at a bar or restaurant then you’re using a supervised consumption site (SCS). Luckily you are also accessing a safe, regulated supply. Don’t point fingers at people who use their drugs at the other one. Alcohol is a drug too. Normalize SCS.
#EndStigma
#harmreduction
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To all store owners: I never wanted to sleep in your doorway. I never was intentionally trying to disrupt your business. I always tried to leave before you opened. I was there for the same reason others are today: it is the only place that feels safe. Please advocate for housing
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Years ago when I was homeless there was an extreme cold weather warning and I was turned away from a shelter. I broke into a building to stay warm and was woken up by police, arrested & charged for break & enter. What else was I supposed to do? My crime was being desperate.
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I don't know who needs to hear this : 🗣️ People don't need to be drug-free or sober to deserve proper health care, housing & kindness.
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OMG - this is appalling!
On a day when his home province is literally on fire & wildfire is devastating one of our most beautiful national parks, the man who wants to be Canada’s next Prime Minister travelled to London, Ontario to hold another playground press conference, spout
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I met this guy 13 years ago at an AA meeting when I walked away from the DTES and a life of addiction. I had one set of clothes and sandals.
He noticed I didn't have much and he took me out to buy clothes and shoes.
I told him I can't pay you back but he said "if you stick
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North America's first supervised consumption site in Vancouver will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this September and yours truly will be the MC of this incredible event!
I signed up in 2003. I used the facility over 4000 times, being brought back to life there multiple
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New family photo: After decades of struggling with homelessness, addiction, isolation and mental health issues I walked away from the downtown east side with one set of clothes on my back to try and rebuild my life. Over a decade later, this is the life that was built! I couldn't
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I got sober at 43.
I became a father at 44.
I got my first legitimate paychq in decades at 45.
I did my 1st TEDx Talk at 49.
I became an intl public speaker at 50.
Nobody thought I'd live past 30 & here I am at 53. 🥳 It's never too late to start over!
#HappyBirthday
🎉🥳🤯
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BARS 🍻 are SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITES ‼️
If you've had too much alcohol your server will bring you a coffee, some water, and call you a taxi to make it home safely ... That's harm reduction.
If you use unregulated drugs and overdose there is someone there to revive you,
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Hey
@PierrePoilievre
I went treatment and recovery a dozen+ times over decades, achieving 1 week, 30 days, 60 days, 100 days, 9 months. It took me roughly 26 years to accomplish my first year of sobriety. After which I went back out again, using and overdosing at a supervised
Justin Trudeau has liberalized drugs and crime that is destroying our communities.
Community leaders in Markham are backing our common sense Conservative plan: Ban hard drugs. Defund drug dens. Treat addiction. Bring our loved ones home drug-free.
Sign if you’re with us:
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Tough day, I found out my uncle Nick passed away yesterday. If you lived in Vancouver then you knew of East Vans iconic Nick's Spaghetti House. Thanks for all the memories and for always keeping it real! ❤️
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I don't know who needs to hear this, but some of you definitely do!
The main causes of homelessness are rent hikes and evictions, not drug use!
#HousingCrisis
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BREAKING NOW:
@DULFBC
@VANDUpeople
are handing out free heroin, cocaine and crystal meth in front of the Vancouver Police department offering a safer supply of drugs that were all checked and contain no fentanyl! Real
#safersupply
#harmreduction
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Stepping outside my usual wheelhouse to say: I’m not down with defunding a pillar of national identity like the CBC.
CBC/Radio-Canada was founded in 1936 to counter the growing influence of American radio on Canadian airwaves, and it soon became the thread that connects us all,
I can’t wait to defund the CBC and sell off the headquarters for housing.
Sign here to defund the CBC:
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I'll reiterate for all the folks in the back ‼️ The main driver of homelessness isn't, drugs, drug use or even harm reduction (as some people want you to believe) IYKYK.
The MAIN driver of homelessness is poverty, evictions, high rent increases, and limited access to various
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Do you wanna know why no one talks about being on methadone or suboxone at NA meetings?
I took an 18 year old on methadone to his first meeting who was two months sober at the time when someone shared at the meeting that anyone on medications like methadone or suboxone are not
@guyfelicella
If you had unfettered access to ‘safe’ drugs, do you think that you would have find your way into recovery? I haven’t heard anyone stand up at a meeting and say that. Not one person.
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Sometimes, it's hard to believe that 9 years ago I was injecting drugs in a back alley on the east side of Vancouver and today I am hanging out at a park with this little guy sober. We do recover from addiction you just have to keep trying until you find your way!
#WeDoRecover
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You've had a long day at work and you're coming home to unwind and grab your favorite alcoholic beverage 🍷 to relax. All of a sudden you overdose and die, because that beverage is poisonous.
Now do you understand the risk for many people who use unregulated drugs?
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My latest op-ed
@TorontoStar
I almost died of an overdose. Then I got sober, got married and had 3 kids. Ask my family if closing supervised consumption sites is a good idea.
This isn't about doing the "right thing". It's political and will kill people.
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My name is Guy F and I am a former drug user who overdosed and was brought back to life six times, AND....
today I am CELEBRATING 11 YEARS OF SOBRIETY!! 💪🏼 Can I get a hell yeah?
Started from the bottom now we're here!
#wedorecover
#recovery
#sobriety
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At 12 I started using drugs. 14 incarcerated. By 16, I was addicted to drugs & homeless on/ off for decades.
I was 44 when I got sober. 45 when I became a dad. 48 I bought a house.
At 52 I'm saying it's never too late to hit the redo button & change your life.
#NeverGiveUp
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8 yrs ago today in this spot I was homeless. A lady woke me up with a coffee, a hug, 50 bucks & wished me a Merry Christmas. I've never forgotten that and each yr I pay it forward. Give if you can today it'll make someone's day and who knows it might change their life.
#MerryXmas
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When we group homelessness & addiction together as one, we create a narrative that homelessness is addressed with treatment. Homelessness is a poverty issue, not a substance use issue. The treatment needed is housing.
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I just finished visiting my dad in the hospital, and I would like to report there was no crime, chaos, drug dealers or crack smoking...nope, nada, nothing!! Just a bunch of friendly nurses and patients enjoy the day.
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To everyone who needed to hear this: People aren't homeless because they're using drugs they're homeless because there is no affordable housing.
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Turns out Freedom Convoy folks don’t understand the meaning of the word “freedom.”
What a bunch of hypocrites.
I got 645 replies when I asked why the same group who shut down our nation’s capital to fight for medical autonomy is now in favour of forced treatment for drug users.
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Today is North America's first supervised consumption site (Insite) 20 year anniversary event and I am truly grateful and humbled to be the MC. My last overdose was Feb 18th 2013. I laid motionless on the floor of booth 5. When I gained consciousness, the nurse told me how much
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I wouldn’t be here without supervised consumption services. Neither would my kids.
How many future families like mine won’t become a reality because of the Ontario government’s
@SylviaJonesMPP
@fordnation
announcement today to close 10 out of 17 supervised consumption sites?
Not bad for a "Guy" who had to brought back to life 6 times & struggled with homelessness & addiction for decades in
#dtes
. I wouldn't be alive today without harm reduction AND I wouldn't have the life I have today without my recovery. First party of 5
#family
photo.
#WeDoRecover
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I was shopping at a grocery store and I heard someone call my name. He approached me and said - "you're not going to remember me but I am a first responder who helped revive you after an overdose you had many years ago in the DTES". 😲
My first response was thank you, and can I
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Four days ago, I let
@SarahFischer__
(Communications Director for
@PierrePoilievre
) know that she was giving her guy inaccurate KMs when it comes to the situation here on the ground in BC.
Since these facts are so easy to look up, I thought the leader of a major Canadian
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9 yrs ago today I was sleeping in this doorway, it was cold. A lady woke me up on Dec 25 and gave me a coffee, a hug, 50 bucks and said Merry Christmas. I've never seen her again or forgotten her kindness & I continue to pay it forward today
#MerryChristmasEveryone
#BeKindAlways
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Hard to believe that 9 years ago I was homeless and using an 8 ball of heroin and cocaine each day.
Today I own my home and the only drug I use is caffeine ☕☕☕ to chase these two around.
#WeDoRecover
#Recovery
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I remember being homeless in the freezing winter and discovering a heated parkade in the West End of Vancouver and thinking they care more about heating for cars but not for people who are homeless.
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It was me that
@JohnRustad4BC
chatted with. I shared my story of how I was brought back to life 6 times and if supervised consumption sites didn't exist then I wouldn't have almost 12 years of sobriety today.
I showed him pictures of my kids, and he seemed humbled by my story.
The NDP points out last week leader John Rustad said this - "I was talking with one individual who said he OD'd in a safe injection site 6 times before he finally got into treatment... If he wasn't there, you know, he wouldn't be alive today."
#bcpoli
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@Elex_Michaelson
@GavinNewsom
@FOXLA
@TheIssueIsShow
Nice PR move, which is sad. What about helping the homeless have access to housing, and would you actually help out without a camera crew?
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I don't go to AA meetings unless someone asks me to go.
Years ago I helped a friend who relapsed in recovery and fell into homelessness in the DTES.
We finally got her housing (took a while) and I'll never forget what she said to me:
"I have 99 problems and who would have
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Hard to believe 8 years ago today I was homeless and overdosing in
#dtes
. Harm reduction kept me alive and the unconditional support from its resources gave me some self worth that my addiction robbed from me. This family exists bc of harm reduction and recovery working together.
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Isn’t it interesting that most of the people who complain about people using drugs are drug users themselves, and consume at these so-called "drug dens" and even outside where the public can see them getting intoxicated?!
Check out
@PierrePoilievre
&
@JohnRustad4BC
👇 … the
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Good to see
@Conservative_BC
enjoying their drugs at a supervised consumption site, and I hope there are designated drivers in order to make sure everyone arrives home safely.
(A HARM REDUCTION PRACTICE)
#harmreduction
Packed pub in Courtenay with our great Conservative Party of BC candidate Brennan Day!
Always great to share a pint with everyday, hardworking British Columbians.
#bcpoli
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@choeshow
Criminalizing poverty and stealing peoples personal belongings. This is causing a tremendous amount of trauma.
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🚨Jaw-dropping investigative story from
@ctv_jon
👇
Turns out
@FordNation
didn’t even look at Ontario crime data before making the announcement about closing supervised consumption sites. Because when the data is analyzed, turns out CRIME WENT DOWN in neighbourhoods with an
NEW investigation from me!
The Ford gov’t said supervised drug consumption sites should be shut in part because of crime.
But the data seems to show the opposite:
Toronto neighbourhoods with sites saw many types of crime drop: data | CTV News
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This is an important read, about how the rhetoric and politics of federal Conservative Leader
@PierrePoilievre
(and federal & provincial conservative politicians & pundits generally) is a dramatically new and dangerous development for Canada.
After hateful rhetoric in the U.S.
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Back alley legends! The 3 of us all struggled in the DTES for years, often using harm reduction services to stay alive. Today we are all in recovery with a combined sobriety of 32 years! We do recover.
#inspiration
#WednesdayMotivation
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I don't know who needs to hear this: Ppl experiencing homelessness have been stigmatized forever. Having a home shouldn’t be a requirement to be treated with kindness, compassion, & understanding. Be angry that we allow homelessness to exist, not at the person trying to survive.
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It's hard to believe that 9 yrs ago I was hanging out on the corner of Hastings & Main, using drugs every day for decades and today I'm hanging out with my kids! When a person has the desire to change, they can climb the tallest mountain from the deepest pit. Never lose hope!
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I don't know who needs to hear this : We should be angry that homelessness exists in our society, not at the people who are homeless.
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Anti harm reduction activists when someone isn't ready, willing or wanting recovery treatment.
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It is absolutely gross 🤢 that some people continue to post dehumanizing and stigmatizing photos of vulnerable people struggling with addiction, poisoned drugs, homelessness, and other complex challenges. 🤬(I cropped the photo)
To all the folks in the back. You do not have to
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For everyone who needs to hear this:
Going into addiction treatment won't change unaddressed societal issues of poverty, and homelessness‼️
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We criminalize poverty.
We criminalize homelessness.
We criminalize addiction.
We criminalize people who use drugs.
We criminalize mental health.
Let's make 2023 the year we support people who struggle with these health conditions instead of criminalizing them.
#healthcare
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It’s a signature move of repressive governments around the world to try and silence experts and academics who hold dissenting opinions. 🧵(Thread)
Now it’s happening in Canada!! 🇨🇦
Toronto Star columnist
@bruce_arthur
writes this week about how Ontario physician Dr. Andrea
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For all the folks in the back: Homeless people don't have to be drug free to deserve housing!
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8.5 years ago this was me struggling with trauma, isolation, homelessness & addiction. Today this is me thriving, healing & surrounded by love in recovery. Retweet to inspire others that
#WeDoRecover
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10 years ago I was sleeping in this doorway alone on Christmas morning. Today, I'm waking up on Christmas morning with my 3 beautiful children and watching the magic of what recovery can do. Merry Christmas everyone🎄
#MerryChristmas
#mentalhealth
#addiction
#recovery
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I am so hurt. Disheartened. 🧵
Yesterday I received an email informing me that I’m no longer welcome at the National Recovery Capital Conference, organized by
@Last_Door
, taking place this week in Calgary. My registration has been cancelled and I will not be permitted to attend.
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There are angels walking among us!
This weekend is filled with emotions, gratitude and reflection for me: Tomorrow February 18, 2013 was my sixth & last overdose at Insite supervised consumption site.
When I was revived from where I lay motionless on the floor at booth 5, I
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Both are supervised consumption sites (bars) except one has a regulated supply of drugs with labels and percentages so you know exactly what you're consuming to reduce the harms.
#harmreduction
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It still baffles me how people are against supervised consumption sites; facilities that literally save people's lives. On Feb 18 2013 I was brought back to life at one and because of that moment, I was able to find my recovery. Without SCS, this little guy wouldn't be here
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A teen came up to me after my high school presentation and shared this:
“Thanks for saying drug users aren’t bad people. My dad died of an overdose in 2020 and I don’t tell people. He wasn’t a bad person, he was my dad and he loved me.” We must do better!
#EndStigma
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Look who I bumped into in downtown Vancouver today:
@Conservative_BC
leader
@JohnRustad4BC
.
We had a friendly chat for about 10 minutes. I told him how harm reduction saved my life, and that it’s an important safety net to keep in place even for governments focused on recovery.
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We need to talk about Alberta’s Minister of Mental Health & Addiction,
@DanWilliamsALTA
.
He and I both appeared as witnesses at yesterday’s federal Standing Committee on Health, and it was sure clear we are diametrically opposed in our opinions!
I asked the committee to
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Some very meaningful news ☺️
Today is a big day for me …because it’s literally MY DAY!
I’m so honoured and humbled that today, May 29 2024, has been declared “Guy Felicella Day” in Vancouver 😳
I don't do what I do for recognition, but it sure feels great to know people
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We all find this funny right?
Despite seven years of a “communist” provincial government, Chip Wilson still manages to be the 8th richest man in Canada, with an estimated net worth of $5 Billion.
Somehow, while reorganizing BC’s socioeconomic order and redistributing wealth to
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Bars are supervised consumption sites that offer regulated substances so people know exactly what they’re using and use relatively safely. We should do the same for all supervised consumption sites.
#harmreduction
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I used Insite more than 4,000 times over 10 years. I used drugs under supervision there, and my life was saved there … more than once. Yes, it's a place to use drugs, but what most people don't know is it’s also a place to STOP using drugs. Insite provides a seamless transition
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The hardest part about being homeless is there is no rest mentally and physically.
You are constantly focusing on surviving: the elements, the safety, the fear, the judgement, and the social isolation is always present.
We cannot just simply say we don’t want it in our
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I've been to/left treatment over a dozen times to try & stay sober. If it wasn't for harm reduction services like supervised consumption sites, safer alternatives, naloxone and clean supplies to protect me in my relapses, I wouldn't be alive today or have the decade of sobriety
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Did John Rustad just threaten to force every person who has an overdose event into INVOLUNTARY CARE … even if they would choose to go voluntarily?
I want to address something in tonight’s debate that I found extremely offensive.
@JohnRustad4BC
, you don’t know me and you don’t
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Christmas 2010 I was in the detox facility above the supervised consumption site putting on a brave face & dreaming of changing my life. It took me a few years of constantly trying but I never stopped fighting!
This is Christmas 2024🎄 It's my 11 holiday in a row where I've
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Super proud of this old school crew!❣️❣️
All of us struggled in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver for years. All of us used harm reduction services, all of us battled to get out and all of us are now in recovery. All of us give back and help others! There are more than 150 years
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I am disappointed that
@Conservative_BC
@JohnRustad4BC
would use a homeless encampment to start their campaign.
As a person who works hard at helping vulnerable people access harm reduction, recovery treatment, and housing services this isn't helpful.
#bcpoli
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Hey
@nypost
- this headline & story about people at an Edmonton bus station are GARBAGE.
You’re talking about humans in crisis — people who are being victimized by a shit mix of deadly chemicals in the unregulated drug supply. This crisis is impacting EVERY CITY & COMMUNITY in
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I'll reiterate for some folks: People shouldn’t have to be drug-free in order to have access to shelter or housing.
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Judging by my comment section, in recent days I’ve been reaching a new audience of people who REALLY hate people who use drugs.
Some of you say the quiet part out loud: you don’t care if drug users die. Some of you don’t say it, but your support for the closure of harm reduction
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What an honour to be awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal today 🥹
What a great day! Not only was it my birthday, but this afternoon I received a Coronation Medal from B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, Jennifer Whiteside.
Created to mark the coronation of
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HEY
@JohnRustad4BC
, HEY!
It’s me, the guy you spoke to on a downtown Vancouver street — who you told you WOULDN’T cut lifesaving supervised consumption services!!
This quote you gave to CBC last night shows you really don’t understand addiction. You told the reporter that after
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Kona was my rock in early sobriety he took care of me as much as I took care of him. He always knew when I needed a little extra love. We grew older together and today you have passed. Thanks for always knowing and loving me through it all. ❤️❤️❤️
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Mr
@PierrePoilievre
. What’s with all these anti-science takes?
I’m grateful to live in a country where we have freedom of expression and freedom to choose medical treatments for ourselves. So I don’t disagree with anyone’s right to refuse vaccines.
But vaccines ARE supported
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9 years sober today!! 🥳🎉 Grateful for both harm reduction & recovery for saving my life. Many thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey of life. ❤️🙏
#BridgeTheGap
#HarmReduction
#WeDoRecover
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To anyone who doubts supervised consumption sites!
@InsiteVan
empact:
Total visits: 4,602,125
Total injection visits: 2,924,473
Overdoses reversed: 11, 856
Referrals to off site services that includes recovery treatment: 71,103
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My friend was caught in the crossfire where bear spray was deployed. She stumbled across the street blinded and in pain. 2 people came to help her. They grabbed some wipes and helped her clean her eyes, face and hands and made sure she was okay before she could walk again. These
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Hey! If you see this please send some good vibes. I'm heading into surgery shortly 😬😬
#nervous
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