stream of consciousness logo stream of consciousness logo

PAST EVENT

The Poppy Revolution

Heroin Buyers’ Clubs and the End of the War on Drugs
The Poppy Revolution

South Island Overdose Community Response Network

Who We Are:

We are those who through love and compassion are compelled to respond to the preventable deaths of people in our community. We fear that people have become accustomed to an intolerable situation, but we refuse to accept the current crisis as normal or inevitable. The overdose crisis continues to worsen, and without effective action from our government, the burden of response has fallen onto the community. Solutions to this epidemic are beyond the capacity of any one person, organization, or community, so we call upon our neighbours, friends, and family to coordinate community response, better our collective actions, speak the truth about the harm of stigma and shame, and save as many lives as possible.

What We Do:

– Provide overdose prevention and response training
– Work to end the shame and stigma associated with substance use in our communities
– Advocate for an end to drug criminalization that affects the health and safety of people who use substances
– Share information and updates about the broader community response to the overdose crisis, including trainings, workshops, demonstrations, and other community-driven events

www.avi.org

Event Summary

 

 

The Poppy Revolution: Heroin Buyers’ Clubs and the End of the War on Drugs is an interactive, high energy event featuring a diverse and captivating panel speaking to the causes, effects and the waning years of the war on drugs.

Hosted by Activist and Professor Marilou Gagnon, this evening explored the dangers of Drug Prohibition, the on-going ‘Overdose Crisis’ and the possibilities for community power and change.

With increasingly louder calls to provide safe, predictable narcotics to those at risk of overdose, we are confronted with the possibility of either state facilitated access to these needed drugs or a more community-based approach.

An example of this is the Heroin Buyers Club, which could serve as a means for a more direct, and grass roots approach to drug use.

Ultimately, which ever approach we take, there can be no doubt that the war on drugs is in peril.
 

FEATURED EXPERTS

Dr. Shannon McDonald: Deputy Chief Medical Officer First Nations Health Authority

Dr. Shannon McDonald, proudly Metis/Anishinabe with deep roots in the Red River Valley of Manitoba, is the Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the First Nations Health Authority.
Dr. McDonald is a trained physician, with post-graduate medical training in Community Medicine and Psychiatry, and has worked for over 20 years in the area of First Nations and Aboriginal Health.

Dr. McDonald has extensive experience both in the federal and provincial government contexts – most recently for 5 years as the Executive Director of Aboriginal Health at the BC Ministry of Health.

As an influential leader, Dr. McDonald was recently awarded BC’s Physician Champions of Change award by the Doctors of BC for her leadership and advocacy for physician services in BC’s rural and remote
First Nations communities.

 
Erica Thomson: Fraser health Regional Peer Coordinator.

Erica is a powerful advocate for women who use drugs, and identifies as a woman with lived/living experience.

Her current role in Fraser Health as Regional Peer Coordinator is a first of its kind and within the first year was able to hold a strategic planning forum and develop the first Peer engagement strategy for a health authority that was led by peer experts/ people with lived experience to be involved in the service design, delivery, policy and evaluation of services designed to meet the diverse needs of people who use drugs.

Outside of her role in Fraser, Erica is an active advocate and member of several drug user groups and recovery networks and recently joined forces with experts to explore a ‘heroin coop/compassion model” as one pathway to a safer supply as the overdose (prohibition) crisis continues to decimate our communities.

 
Susan Boyd: PhD Professor in the Faculty of Human and Social Development, University of Victoria.

Susan is the author of a number of articles and books on drug issues, including: From Witches to Crack Moms: Women, drug law, and policy; Busted: An illustrated history of drug prohibition in Canada, and co- author of Raise Shit!: Social action saving lives.

She is also a long-time activist who works with national and community peer-run organizations that advocate for human rights, the end of drug prohibition, and for the establishment of diverse harm reduction initiatives. Susan’s talk tonight
is titled “Heroin: Canadian law, policy, and activism over the last century.”

 
Donald MacPherson: Director, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

Donald MacPherson is the Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition a national coalition of organizations and individuals working to improve Canada’s approach to psychoactive substance use.

He is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. He has co-authored the books Raise Shit: Social Action, Saving Lives and Drug Policy in Canada: More Harm than Good.

 

OUR ESTEEMED MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Dr. Marilou Gagnon, RN, PhD

Dr. Gagnon is an Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, School of Nursing and Scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.

Her program of research seeks to address gaps in knowledge that have the potential to inform public debate and policies, while also advancing the rights and the health of marginalized communities.

She has worked in three provinces, has served on multiple boards of directors and has been involved in a number of grassroots initiatives, including the opening of a pop-up overdose prevention site in Ottawa.

In 2015, she founded the Coalition of Nurses for Supervised Injection Services. Two years later, she started the Harm Reduction Nurses Association (HRNA).

She currently serves as the President of HRNA and is leading their research, advocacy, practice, and policy portfolios.

 
Join us either in person, or online, for this one of a kind event!

The Digital Ticket

 
JOIN US ONLINE FOR THE WHOLE CONVERSATION!
We’re very excited to share that this event is being made available LIVE online so that you can join us from wherever you may be! These days most of us have big full lives, and are dealing with various commitments around family, time, money and work. Digitally, you’ll have the speakers, conversation & community – all from the comfort of your own home.

LISTEN. ANSWER. ASK. CONNECT!
You’re not watching – you’re PARTICIPATING! Through our easy online webinar system, you can engage with other viewers, participate in polls & discussions, and even ask questions during question periods. You certainly CAN choose to just sit back and watch & listen, if you like – your active participation isn’t an expectation, but it IS an opportunity.

REVIEW AS NEEDED!
No need to stress – you’ll have access after the event to review the whole broadcast – go over parts you missed, look closer at slides or materials, hear that big mind-bomb again and again… and have every opportunity to deepen the integration of this offering.

NO FANCY TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED
There’s nothing to install, nothing to download, nothing to figure out. Here’s what you need to participate and have a great viewing experience!

> a modern & up-to-date browser (we recommend Chrome or Firefox)
> a reliable internet connection (hardwired is better than wifi)
> earbuds, headphones or good computer speakers

Our Venue


 
Sunset Labs is an intimate waterfront multi-purpose venue located downtown Victoria, Canada. This beautiful, high-tech venue hosts live broadcasts, meetings & workshops, dance nights, film screenings, live rock shows, fashion events, book fairs and everything else the community comes up with. For more information, please visit our website.

 

Event Gallery