This is exactly what I worried about when I warned ...

[JimDandy]

... that a significant number of people on social assistance were collecting Cerb payments even though they did not qualify:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7054856/...erNational&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2020
JD

 

[JimDandy]

The drug crisis ultimately requires a systemic change in policy to try and bring about some sort of change...

I could not agree more!

JD

 

[blakealridge]

ever heard of correlation without causation? the reason why there has been a spike is because people are stuck inside alone, isolated, scared, etc because of the disease. NOT because of CERB.

 

[JimDandy]

ever heard of correlation without causation? the reason why there has been a spike is because people are stuck inside alone, isolated, scared, etc because of the disease. NOT because of CERB.

You are so wrong on this point Charlee. Did you even read the article?

They were interviewing out reach workers on a tv broadcast yeserday who work the DTES and they said "we have never seen so much money on the street". Where do you suppose that money came from?

There is a thread here on Perb about SWs. Several observers of the street scene on that thread mentioned that there are significantly less SWs on the street since the Cerb payments started rolling out. These SWs are not staying off the street to observe social distancing lol.

 

[blakealridge]

You are so wrong on this point Charlee. Did you even read the article?

They were interviewing out reach workers on a tv broadcast yeserday who work the DTES and they said "we have never seen so much money on the street". Where do you suppose that money came from?

There is a thread here on Perb about SWs. Several observers of the street scene on that thread mentioned that there are significantly less SWs on the street since the Cerb payments started rolling out. These SWs are not staying off the street to observe social distancing lol.

I read the article, yes, and it specifically says that the reason there are more deaths is because of an increase in toxicity, and lack of access to safe supply. I know a lot about the scene in Vancouver because of my work volunteering with PACE, and I can say with confidence that the reason the street scene is dead is because there have been WAY fewer clients, and the clients that are out are much more dangerous; and also many workers ARE immunocompromised or have immunocompromised family and ARE social distancing...why is that idea funny to you?

PACE has a great fund to help workers who are struggling through this time, if anyone is interested in helping. MANY workers are unable to apply for CERB or work during this time and are truly struggling in horrible ways that are beyond anything most of us can comprehend.

https://www.pace-society.org/relief/
Financial support does not cause overdose deaths: impure drugs do. If you truly care about the lives being lost, I recommend you use your energy to advocate for safe supply.

 

[Mr Quim]

I read the article, yes, and it specifically says that the reason there are more deaths is because of an increase in toxicity, and lack of access to safe supply. I know a lot about the scene in Vancouver because of my work volunteering with PACE, and I can say with confidence that the reason the street scene is dead is because there have been WAY fewer clients, and the clients that are out are much more dangerous; and also many workers ARE immunocompromised or have immunocompromised family and ARE social distancing...why is that idea funny to you?

PACE has a great fund to help workers who are struggling through this time, if anyone is interested in helping. MANY workers are unable to apply for CERB or work during this time and are truly struggling in horrible ways that are beyond anything most of us can comprehend.

https://www.pace-society.org/relief/
Financial support does not cause overdose deaths: impure drugs do. If you truly care about the lives being lost, I recommend you use your energy to advocate for safe supply.

Kudos Charlee ! That response is one of the most impressive, and eloquent Posts I've seen You make ! ?? This Issue is so complex, I don't know if it'll ever be resolved .
I truly think Fentanyl, is the true culprit in this Situation ?

Other Drugs are being cut with Fentanyl, as You implied, so People don't really know what They're taking ! I had a Friend who overdosed early this year, and He wasn't a Drug Addict. But, I'm assuming that some Cocaine he was partaking in, was laced with Fentanyl .
Lights out, gone for good, and a sad Story with his Family dealing with the aftermath !

China brought Us COVID-19, but, They're supplying Us with even more Fentanyl !
Which will bring with it, an even higher Death Toll .

The Pharmaceutical Companies let this Genie out of the Box, all in the name of unimaginable Profits ? How sick, and unconscionable is that ?

Some more insights into Fentanyl... which is also on Netflix .

Mr Q.

 

[JimDandy]

I read the article, yes, and it specifically says that the reason there are more deaths is because of an increase in toxicity, and lack of access to safe supply. I know a lot about the scene in Vancouver because of my work volunteering with PACE, and I can say with confidence that the reason the street scene is dead is because there have been WAY fewer clients, and the clients that are out are much more dangerous; and also many workers ARE immunocompromised or have immunocompromised family and ARE social distancing...why is that idea funny to you?

PACE has a great fund to help workers who are struggling through this time, if anyone is interested in helping. MANY workers are unable to apply for CERB or work during this time and are truly struggling in horrible ways that are beyond anything most of us can comprehend.

https://www.pace-society.org/relief/
Financial support does not cause overdose deaths: impure drugs do. If you truly care about the lives being lost, I recommend you use your energy to advocate for safe supply.

I do not disagree with the vast majority of what you stated in your reply. I commend your efforts in supporting PACE and your suggestions on how/why to provide financial support to those less fortunate than us.

However, I have heard first hand accounts from a half dozen people I know who live in the DTES that a huge percentage of the people they know who are own financial assitance from the ministry are also receiving Cerb payments and are telling all of their friend/acquintances in similar circumstances how to do the same. I'm told that all they require is a social security number to apply and that their current address must align with the address they have on record. That's it! So these people who do not qualify for Cerb (and they don't if they are on social assistance) are getting Cerb. I'm not saying that everyone on social assistance in the DTES is a drug user. But you work with PACE, so you have to know a significant percentage of drug users are on social assistance.

See also:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cerb-pandemic-opioid-addiction-overdose-1.5606188
Specifically the first paragraph:

"People who work with those struggling with drug addictions are warning that the Canada emergency response benefit program (CERB) — Ottawa's primary support for households left without income due to the pandemic — is helping to fuel illicit drug use and may even have contributed to overdose deaths. "

The above warning is coming from people who work directly with people struggling with drug addiction. I rest my case.

JD

 

[80watts]

The doctors should get sued for the oxy. The pharma companies sued for marketing. Take the money from the people who made the profits. Not just the company, but the shareholders and the people who worked at the pharma companies.

 

[addicted2lov]

The extended lockdown period, the imposed measures and their direct and indirect consequences are the principal factor in people loosing their mental sanity and resorting to drugs.
People who weren't taking any drugs before have started to take anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills and so on.
People who were on hard drugs they overdid it or got bad supply.
People taking drugs are the results, the cause is the insanity of this whole situation which will have a long term and long lasting effect in the society.
The effects will trickle down everywhere.

 

[Mr Quim]

I do not disagree with the vast majority of what you stated in your reply. I commend your efforts in supporting PACE and your suggestions on how/why to provide financial support to those less fortunate than us.

However, I have heard first hand accounts from a half dozen people I know who live in the DTES that a huge percentage of the people they know who are own financial assitance from the ministry are also receiving Cerb payments and are telling all of their friend/acquintances in similar circumstances how to do the same. I'm told that all they require is a social security number to apply and that their current address must align with the address they have on record. That's it! So these people who do not qualify for Cerb (and they don't if they are on social assistance) are getting Cerb. I'm not saying that everyone on social assistance in the DTES is a drug user. But you work with PACE, so you have to know a significant percentage of drug users are on social assistance.

See also:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cerb-pandemic-opioid-addiction-overdose-1.5606188
Specifically the first paragraph:

"People who work with those struggling with drug addictions are warning that the Canada emergency response benefit program (CERB) — Ottawa's primary support for households left without income due to the pandemic — is helping to fuel illicit drug use and may even have contributed to overdose deaths. "

The above warning is coming from people who work directly with people struggling with drug addiction. I rest my case.

JD

I think You're still trying to simplify a very complex Problem .
There is no lowest common Denominator in this Case !

Mr Q.

 

[Mr Quim]

The extended lockdown period, the imposed measures and their direct and indirect consequences are the principal factor in people loosing their mental sanity and resorting to drugs.
People who weren't taking any drugs before have started to take anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills and so on.
People who were on hard drugs they overdid it or got bad supply.
People taking drugs are the results, the cause is the insanity of this whole situation which will have a long term and long lasting effect in the society.
The effects will trickle down everywhere.

I think your Analysis is bang on ! ?
And an emotional Dr Henry agrees with You .
The Overdose tragedies touch every part of the Province !

Mr Q.