The chief coroner of #Ontario + others have released report today for #OverdoseDeaths during #COVID19

The stats reflect exactly what PWUDs & harm reductionists have been saying all year: that they are living through a horrifying disaster.

#thread full of rage & grief
In the first 15 weeks of the pandemic, almost 700 people died from overdose - thats an avg of 46 people dying each WEEK.

Its anticipated that there will be a 50% INCREASE in the number of people who die from overdose in 2020 in comparison to 2019. #ONpoli
Since the beginning of this crisis in 2016/2017 - more and more people keep dying FROM PREVENTABLE DEATHS from the toxic illicit drug supply.

A toxic illicit drug supply thats a direct result of years of prohibition - prohibition born out of white supremacy.
Since the beginning of this crisis in 2016/2017 - more and more people keep dying FROM PREVENTABLE DEATHS from the toxic illicit drug supply. A toxic illicit drug supply thats a direct result of years of prohibition - prohibition born out of white supremacy.
Since the beginning of this crisis in 2016/2017 - more and more people keep dying FROM PREVENTABLE DEATHS from the toxic illicit drug supply. A toxic illicit drug supply thats a direct result of years of prohibition - prohibition born out of white supremacy.
From the anti-Asian racist riots in Van to Canadian feminist Emily Murphys theory of BIPOC ppl using drugs to destroy the "purity" of the white race to alcohol bans against Indigenous ppl - we must confront racist origins of drug laws as roots of crisis https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ondrugs/drugs-what-s-race-got-to-do-with-it-1.4206616
Drugs: What's race got to do with it? | CBC Radio

Drugs don't exist in a vacuum. In many cases, they've been used to prop up mythologies around race and justify discriminatory policies against already struggling communities.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ondrugs/drugs-what-s-race-got-to-do-with-it-1.4206616
It shouldn't surprise us then to see that ppl most structurally oppressed - those living at the intersections of material deprivation/poverty & racialization are more likely to die not just from COVID19, BUT ALSO FROM ODs.
Bare minimum solutions?

đź—Ł Decriminalization - END THE RACIST WAR ON PPL WHO USE DRUGS

đź—Ł Full spectrum of regulated #SafeSupply & Low Barrier OAT

đź—Ł SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION - there should be an OPS in every town/city/community & hospital/COVIDhotels/shelters/respites/clinics
You can access the full report here for your own reading:
https://odprn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Opioid-Death-Report_FINAL-2020NOV09.pdf
More from the report here https://twitter.com/ODPRN_Research/status/1326153020246257666?s=19
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