Podcasts about overdose prevention society

Host J.R. Jamison sits down with filmmaker Colin Askey, who directed the PBS documentary Love in the Time of Fentanyl, and the two are joined by Sarah Blyth and Trey Helten from the Overdose Prevention Society, the harm reduction organization featured in the film that brings people in from the streets and saves lives by providing a safe and welcoming place to use drugs.Photo Credit – Colin Askey, photo provided.

B.C. is marking another grim milestone with a record number of deaths from unregulated drugs in 2023. Sarah Blyth, Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society in Vancouver. We'll discuss what direction the province needs to take in 2024. Ross Cloutier, Executive Director, HeliCat Canada, speaks with us about what the heli-skiing industry is feeling after the deadly crash north of Terrace on Monday, Jan. 23. He also talks about the measures the industry takes to ensure safety. And we were joined by Dr. Mariana Brussoni, professor and director of Human Early Learning Partnership with UBC's faculty of medicine to talk about how to mitigate risks in play and get more kids outdoors. Pediatricians say it's time to pop the bubble wrap and let kids play outdoors. We'll hear from parents on our open line.

If it wasn't for safer injecting sites I wouldn't be alive today that's for sure because I wouldn't be able to stay alive long enough to hit bottom – to have a moment of clarity where I was able to say 'I don't want to do this any more'. "Trey Helton, manager of the Overdose Prevention Society in VancouverIn part two of The Ferret investigates…the health gap – a three-part special podcast from The Ferret media co-op and Greater Govanhill magazine – we look at drug deaths, one of the key factors driving Scottish health inequalities. In Scotland, men in the most deprived areas of Scotland have a life expectancy of almost 14 years less than those in the most affluent areas. And for women that gap is ten and a half years. A total of 1,051 people died of drug overdoses across Scotland in 2022 – that's almost three people a day. And you're 16 times as likely to die of a drug overdose if you live in a deprived community than if you live in a wealthy one. In this episode we visit Simon Community Scotland's We See You project and hear from coordinator Jim Thomson and participant Owen Docherty about the power of finding connection. We also visit Vancouver where Trey Helton tells us how the Overdose Prevention Society is saving lives, and we hear from indigenous women at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre – a group disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis there – about how reconnecting with their culture is helping them heal. In the studio we hear from Simon Community Scotland's Claire Longmuir and Professor Andrew McAuley from Glasgow Caledonian University about what's working in Scotland and what more we need to do. You can find all three episodes of The Ferret investigates...the health gap on The Ferret or wherever you get your podcasts. Credits: Hosts: Karin Goodwin, of The Ferret and Samar Jamal, of Greater Govanhill magazine Interviews: Karin GoodwinProduction: Halina Rifai and Karin Goodwin Episode editing and sound: Halina Rifai Music: Loris S. SaridPackage about indigenous culture Reporting, sound recording and writing: Karin GoodwinEditing and sound design: Flora Zajicek The Vancouver interviews were recorded on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyAdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Sarah Blyth, Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society describes the situation in the Downtown Eastside since the end of the Hastings encampment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Minister of Transport's proposed changes to the Canada Transportation Act for air travellers Gabor Lukacs, President and founder of the Air Passenger Rights Group discusses the imbalance of power between air passengers and airlines. Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson out of CNN and Fox News  Rick Forchuk, TV Week Magazine columnist and CKNW contributor discusses Dom Lemon and Tucker Carlson leaving CNN and Fox News The VPD's update on the Hastings encampment Sgt. Steve Addison, Media Liaison Officer for the Vancouver Police Department provides an update on the Hastings encampment BC Prosecution Service releases preliminary bail statistics Richard Zussman, Global BC Legislative Reporter provides an update on preliminary bail statistics released by the BC Prosecution Service Cracking down on China's secret ‘police stations' Graeme Wood, Syndicated Reporter for Glacier Media discusses cracking down on China's secret 'police stations' Responding to the VPD's Hastings encampment update Sarah Blyth, Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society describes the situation in the Downtown Eastside since the end of the Hastings encampment. The proposal for a 2% shift in commercial and residential tax distribution ratio Sarah Kirby-Yung, Vancouver City Councillor discusses the proposal for a 2% shift in commercial and residential tax distribution ratio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vancouver removing tents on East Hastings Street today Sarah Blythe, Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society discusses the city of Vancouver's action to remove the 'tent city' on Hastings street. The Vancouver Canadians have been sold to U.S. based Diamond Baseball Holdings Jake Kerr, Chairman of the Vancouver Canadians discusses the sale of the team to U.S. based Diamond Baseball Holdings B.C.'s minimum wage will increase to $16.75 per hour on June 1 Sussanne Skidmore, President of BC Federation of Labour discusses the rise of BC's minimum wage - beginning June 1st  ‘It is unsafe': Vancouver asks police to help end Hastings Street tent encampment Vancouver Police Department Chief Adam Palmers discusses the process taken to remove Vancouver's Hastings Street encampment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Blythe, Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society discusses the city of Vancouver's action to remove the 'tent city' on Hastings street. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does the Province plan on tackling housing affordability? Richard Zussman, Global News Journalist based at the Legislature breaks down the latest housing announcement from the Province on tackling affordable housing in the Downtown Eastside. Will building 90 housing units in the DTES actually help unhoused people? Sarah Blythe, Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society examines the latest housing announcement within the downtown eastside. How will the “100 Day Plan” make housing more affordable? Ravi Kahlon, BC's Minister of Housing discusses the Province's new announcement on affordable housing in the downtown eastside. How embezzlement and fraud led to the fall of the “Crypto Bros” Andy Baryer, Technology and Digital Lifestyle Expert, handyandymedia.com tells us why he never believed in cryptocurrency. Can gifting unhoused people with an unconditional, one-time payment end homelessness? Simone Dive, Executive Director of Foundations for Social Change discusses how they are looking to end homelessness. Will BC's plan to address housing affordability benefit Vancouver? Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim discusses the Province's new housing plan within the downtown eastside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Blythe, Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society examines the latest housing announcement within the downtown eastside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest report from BC Coroner's reveals a staggering number of deaths among unhoused people. Guest: Sarah Blyth - Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society 

GUEST: Sara Blyth, Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society

Ch1: Indigenous residential school survivors and their families in B.C., not traveling to see the Pope during his visit, will be able to gather at three locations across the province. Guest:  Rachel Ann Snow, Indigenous Legal Advocate. Ch2: A heatwave is expected to hit the lower mainland and while many of us have the options on how to stay cool, the reality is many don't have the same resources. Guest.: Sara Blyth, Advocate for the DTES and Executive Director for the Overdose Prevention Society. Ch3: On Saturday, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency Guest: Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre. Ch4: Passports have been a hard thing to come by as of late but a new passport option in BC is coming. Guest: Karina Gould, MP for Burlington | Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

It's been six years since the British Columbia government declared the opioid overdose crisis a public health emergency. More than 9,400 British Columbians have died from overdoses since January 2016. 174 people were lost in the month of February 2022 alone. Colin Askey's film Love In The Time Of Fentanyl goes beyond the cold statistics and to the heart of what's at stake: human beings in our province, all of whom are worthy of love, care, and respect. Love In the Time of Fentanyl highlights the work of the Overdose Prevention Society, AKA OPS, in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. OPS is a low-barrier, peer-run site where people can use their own illicit drugs, access sterile harm reduction equipment, and receive emergency overdose response as needed. OPS is run by people who've come together to save the lives of people in their community – people they love. And this gift that they're giving – this gift of their time and space and clean drug rigs and no judgment – is working. No one has died from an overdose at an overdose prevention site. This is what community looks like. This is what harm reduction looks like. This is what love can do.Love In The Time of Fentanyl screens at the 2022 DOXA Documentary Film Festival. In this compelling conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Colin Askey talks about Love In The Time of Fentanyl and what OPS can tell us about the compassion and care required to save lives during this devastating time. Episode sponsored by Fish Flight Entertainment

For those using drugs in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Thomus Donaghy was a lifeline, committed to saving those on the brink of overdose. On the night of July 27, 2020, Donaghy, a volunteer at the Overdose Prevention Society, had just saved another life. Moments later, he lost his own. Today, the stories of two men whose lives were shaped by a city in the grips of an overdose epidemic, the tragic circumstances that brought them together that night, and why Maximus Roland Hayes, the man who killed Donaghy, wants to make sure his life wasn't lost for nothing. Our guests are CBC Vancouver reporter Jason Proctor, and Sara Blyth, the executive director of Vancouver's Overdose Prevention Society.

John Su, Indigenous InnovationsTrey Helten, on his dog Zelda and her work at the Overdose Prevention Society

Trey Helten of the Overdose Prevention Society

Trey Helten of the Overdose Prevention Society

Lethbridge was once home to the busiest supervised consumption site in North America, operated by ARCHES. On August 31, 2020, this supervised consumption site was permanently closed. As the number of overdose deaths in Lethbridge continued to climb at record-breaking rates, harm reductionists and people who use drugs were left wondering where to go. In September 2020, a handful of former ARCHES employees and clients got together and formed the Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society (LOPS) with the mission to keep our neighbours, friends, and loved ones alive. LOPS launched a GoFundMe fundraiser, and within 24 hours saw over $10,000 in donations. With this generous support from the community, LOPS purchased a tent, some furniture, a space heater, and harm reduction supplies. With no time to waste, LOPS set up in a local park and began to provide services. As the first unsanctioned overdose prevention site to operate in Alberta, the process has not been without significant challenges. LOPS continues to tackle these challenges head on, and they are committed to doing what it takes to keep Lethbridge citizens safe as the overdose crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and a looming HIV outbreak threaten the lives of those we hold dear to our hearts. Speaker: Kaley Ann Boudoin Kaley Ann Boudoin has worked with various harm reduction groups across Alberta since 2015. In September 2020, she was one of the founding organizers of the Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society, a volunteer group providing harm reduction services including street outreach and an overdose prevention site. Currently, Ms Boudoin volunteers as the Community Engagement Lead with the Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society. Date and time: Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 10 AM MST YouTube Live link: https://youtu.be/Gwh3VHuU4Gc In order to ask questions of our speaker in the chat feature of YouTube, you must have a YouTube account and be signed in. Please do so well ahead of the scheduled start time, so you'll be ready. Go the YouTube Live link provided in this session flyer and on the top right of your browser click the “sign in” button. If you have Google or Gmail accounts, they can be used to sign in. If you don't, click “Create Account” and follow along. Once you are signed in, you can return to the live stream and use the chat feature to ask your questions of the speaker. Remember you can only participate in the chat feature while we are livestreaming. For further info visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

Eric chats with Sarah Blyth from the Overdose Prevention Society about the tragic death of Thomus Donaghy.

Sarah Blythe, executive Director, Overdose Prevention Society joins Jody about the recent opioid overdose numbers. 

Today Mayor Kennedy Stewart announced that a safe drug supply is coming to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. While few details were given, Alex de Boer gets comment from Trey Helton, Manager of Vancouver's Overdose Prevention Society and Jonathan Orr, Program Manager for Raincity Housing's Peer Services. Trey and Jonathan comment on changing conditions in the City's overdose prevention sites and share their questions about Vancouver's new safe supply.

Chapter 1 Hot question of the day It's @JodyVance's Hot question of the day: After a snow day, and nightmare few days on the roads, there's a debate about making snow tires mandatory for all drivers from October to April. VOTE! @cknw @jodyvance  No WAY, too FAR!  Yes, stop the madness Other (tell in comments) You can vote on Twitter at @CKNW.  You can also call the CKNW Buzz Line at (604) 331-BUZZ (2899) and leave your vote there! Chapter 2 How is the Overdose Prevention Society doing after Wednesday's snowfall? Earlier in the week we spoke to Sarah Blythe about how they were dealing with the cold weather at the Overdose Prevention Society. After yesterday's snowfall we wanted to check in again.  Guest: Sarah Blythe, Executive Director Overdose Prevention Society Chapter 3 Money Laundering + City Hall Basics Following yesterday's explosive report from Sam Cooper, we wanted to get the reaction of one of the most vocal voices on the money laundering file, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West. Guest: Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam Chapter 4 How can Vancouver improve its snow response plan   Vancouver Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung has a motion coming forward to council that will look at opportunities to improve the city's response to snowfall.  Guest: Sarah Kirby-Yung, Vancouver City Councillor Chapter 5 How are the residents of Oppenheimer Park dealing with the snow? Despite the cold weather, we still have people with nowhere to go living outside including those at Oppenheimer Park. John Coupar is the NPA Park Board Commissioner, and he joins us now to discuss what is being done to help the people living in Oppenheimer Park. Guest: John Coupar, NPA Park Board Commissioner Chapter 6 BC Poli Update The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an attempt by British Columbia to assert authority over what can flow through an expanded Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta. Also, in federal politics, high-profile Conservative Peter MacKay will make a bid to replace Andrew Scheer as the party's leader. MacKay posted a tweet on Wednesday afternoon saying he is throwing his name in the ring for the Conservative leadership race. Guest: Keith Baldrey, Global BC Chief Political Reporter

Earlier in the week we spoke to Sarah Blythe about how they were dealing with the cold weather at the Overdose Prevention Society. After yesterday's snowfall we wanted to check in again.  Guest: Sarah Blythe, Executive Director Overdose Prevention Society

Chapter 1 Hot question of the day It's @jodyvance's Hot question of the day: With arctic temperatures and a lot of snow falling on the south coast, school closures are happening in many areas.  What are your thoughts on this, should schools close for snow days? Yes! close! No! It's a parenting nightmare! I don't really care.  You can vote on Twitter at @CKNW.  You can also call the CKNW Buzz Line at (604) 331-BUZZ (2899) and leave your vote there! Chapter 2 Latest on Iran Tensions Over the weekend, Iran admitted to shooting down a passenger plane killing 57 Canadians after days of denial. Where does the investigation go from here? Guest: Reggie Cecchini,      Global News Radio Producer in Washington D.C. Chapter 3 Snowy night puts Overdose Prevention Society over capacity The snow and freezing temperatures meant that the Overdose Prevention Society was over capacity last night. How are those struggling dealing with the cold conditions? Guest: Sara Blyth, Executive Director, Overdose Prevention Society Chapter 4 Winter Driving It seems like whenever white stuff hits the ground, some Metro Vancouver drivers forget how to drive. How can we make our commutes less stressful with better driving? Guest: Steve Wallace, Wallace Driving School Chapter 5 Road Conditions  Our Janet Brown spoke to Stu McLeod a resident of Surrey whose 10 minute commute to work was lengthened tremendously today. How are we doing out on the roads today? Guest: Janet Brown, CKNW Senior Reporter Chapter 6 Federal government begins public consultations on medically assisted dying The Trudeau government is launching public consultations today on how best to respond to a court ruling that concluded it's unconstitutional to allow only Canadians who are already near death to seek medical assistance to end their suffering. Guest: Paddy Rodney, Associate Professor, UBC School of Nursing Chapter 7 Vancouver Property Taxes Are we paying too much property tax? Not enough? What's the deal here?  Guests: Tom Davidoff, Economics professor at UBC's Sauder School of Business                 Paul Sullivan, Managing Partner, Burgess Cawley Sullivan

The snow and freezing temperatures meant that the Overdose Prevention Society was over capacity last night. How are those struggling dealing with the cold conditions? Guest: Sara Blyth, Executive Director, Overdose Prevention Society

Honouring an the great activist Jamie Lee Hamilton We welcome Sarah Blythe of the Overdose Prevention Society in studio to honour Jamie Lee Hamilton, the undisputed queen of parks activist who passed away late last week after a brief battle with cancer, at age 64.   GUEST: Sarah Blythe Activist   It's time to head to the box office! Movie guy Steve Stebbing is here to help steer you to the right theatre this weekend. GUEST: Steve Stebbing Movie Guy   Holiday Stress tips with Dr. Nirmala. For a lot of people the holidays tend to be a very stressful time. Whether it's from hosting parties, or a list of invitations to get through, not getting enough sleep..  Dr. Nirmala Raniga spoke with CKNW contributor Niki Reitmayer, on some ways you can help yourself coast through the holidays.  GUEST: Dr. Nirmala Raniga  Founder of the Chopra Addiction and Wellness Center, Vedic Educator   Tech overview, the last decade! Also, what are the tech trends you should keep an eye on? GUEST: Andy Baryer  Tech Guru, Writer, Enthusiast, Whistling World Champ contestant.    Why can't we leave the Royals alone and bringing attention to them?  GUEST:Keith Baldrey Global BC Legislative Bureau Chief   Political Year in Review with Sandy Garossino SNC Lavalin, Brown/Black face, Scheer and LGBTQ2+. Trump. Dem debates…...choosing a candidate to run against Trump.  Impeachment.  End game for GOP?  GUEST: Sandy Garossino former Crown prosecutor and columnist with the National Observer   Civic Politics Year in Review GUEST: George Affleck former Vancouver City councilor/co-host Unspun Podcast Theorca.ca

We welcome Sarah Blythe of the Overdose Prevention Society in studio to honour Jamie Lee Hamilton, the undisputed queen of parks activist who passed away late last week after a brief battle with cancer, at age 64.   GUEST: Sarah Blythe Activist

Overdose prevention workers in Vancouver this week are warning of a potential spike in the rate of overdoses, because of a contaminated supply of illicit drugs.   Guest: Sarah Blyth Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society

Sarah Blyth first started to see the spike in drug overdoses in the Downtown Eastside community in 2016.From her vantage point as manager of the DTES Market, she couldn’t help but see it. People were literally dying in the street.So she decided to do something about it. Rob sums it up: “You saw the need, set up a tent, and tried to save lives”. Yup.Blyth’s role as founder and Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society is the latest in a series of contributions to the city by a person who, as much as anyone here, can speak to having lived a life of privilege, marginalization, social entrepreneurship, leadership, selflessness, and grace under extreme pressure. (And she’s not even halfway through.)Blyth, the former skateboard advocate, Park Board Commissioner, and City Council candidate, fields the tough questions from Gord — specifically on the question of safe supply and induced demand. They circle around housing insecurity and authority in Oppenheimer Park, tangle on addiction, and there’s a quick tease about Tyndall’s machine.And of course, the big question — will she run again? Maybe she should. Read more »

Sarah Blyth first started to see the spike in drug overdoses in the Downtown Eastside community in 2016. From her vantage point as manager of the DTES Market, she couldn’t help but see it. People were literally dying in the street. So she decided to do something about it. Rob sums it up: “You saw the need, set up a tent, and tried to save lives”. Yup. Blyth’s role as founder and Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society is the latest in a series of contributions to the city by a person who, as much as anyone here, can speak to having lived a life of privilege, marginalization, social entrepreneurship, leadership, selflessness, and grace under extreme pressure. (And she’s not even halfway through.) Blyth, the former skateboard advocate, Park Board Commissioner, and City Council candidate, fields the tough questions from Gord — specifically on the question of safe supply and induced demand. They circle around housing insecurity and authority in Oppenheimer Park, tangle on addiction, and there’s a quick tease about Tyndall’s machine. And of course, the big question — will she run again? Maybe she should. Read more »

We talked to Sarah about opioid crisis in Vancouver and Overdose Prevention Society

An old friend of Nick’s, harm reduction worker and award-winning activist Zoe Dodd presents a growing and necessary perspective on addiction, drug legalization, socialism harm reduction, community and challenging authority. Support the Overdose Prevention Society here: ca.gofundme.com/torontooverdosepreventionsociety

Chapter 1

The City of Vancouver is out with 23 recommendations to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. It's part of Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart's campaign promise to establish an emergency task force for the city. Stewart highlighted three key strategies for the task force.   Sarah Blyth,  Founding Member of the Overdose Prevention Society and Community Action Team member, then spoke to the media about her thoughts on the recommendations being put forth today.   Vancouver Fire Chief Darrell Reid was also present at the media briefing today. He spoke about impact the opioid crisis has had on emergency response workers.   However, Chief Reid says that Vancouver officials have made progress in combating the opioid crisis. The project will cost the city $500,000 and it is calling on the province for $2.7 million in funding.The report goes to council on Thursday.

Marjie Francis works with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society. We talked about how the opioid crisis has affected Toronto, the public's response, and what the government has and hasn't done. If you'd like to donate or help the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, you can go to their gofundme at https://ca.gofundme.com/torontooverdosepreventionsociety or like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TorontoOPS/ Web: www.markhughescomedy.com Twitter: @PTT604 Facebook: www.facebook.com/PTT604/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/markhughescomic

Canada is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. In 2016 there were 3,005 opioid-related deaths in Canada. In 2017 the figure jumped to 3,996. The Canadian government's response has been inadequate, which has prompted a wave of activism. We talk to Sarah Ovens, a social worker and an organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society (TOPS), about why the opioid crisis is taking place and what her organization is doing to try to address it. You can make a donation to TOPS here: https://ca.gofundme.com/torontooverdosepreventionsociety

Sarah Blyth is a founding member of the Overdose Prevention Society, a former Parks Boards Commissioner in the City of Vancouver, and an independent city council candidate for the City of Vancouver.

Sarah Blyth is a founding member of the Overdose Prevention Society, a former Parks Boards Commissioner in the City of Vancouver, and an independent city council candidate for the City of Vancouver.

I met with Sarah Blyth - co-founder of the Overdose Prevention Society (OPS) - in her office on the DTES to talk about her work with the OPS, how it started, and her own life and experience with addiction and the school system. https://vancityoverdoseprevention.com/ Twitter: @sarahblyth https://www.facebook.com/Overdose-Prevention-Society-734627406687532/ Web: www.markhughescomedy.com Twitter and IG: @markhughescomic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptg604/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/markhughescomic

After a long hiatus, we are back and ready to bring you more of what you may, or may not, have asked for, but first… We sit down with each other to catch up and talk about our fundraiser for the Overdose Prevention Society, which was an absolute success. Thanks to everyone who donated time […]

We sit down with each other to catch up and talk about our fundraiser for the Overdose Prevention Society, which was an absolute success. Thanks to everyone who donated time and money to the cause. Of course we get silly for rilly and talk that shit and what not. DJ C-LO keeps the beats blazin' and spins a fresh mix fo' dat ass. LSP back init.

Donate to the Overdose Prevention Society: https://www.gofundme.com/wesavelives In September, 2016, three women were so concerned about the growing fentanyl overdose crisis that they set up a tent & table in an alley behind the DTES Market they managed. In potential violation of the law, they set up a drug injection/ consumption site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to combat the many overdose deaths. About Ann: Ann Livingston is a creative, energetic and focused community organizer, who has made significant contributions to improving access to health care for people who use illegal drugs at the local, regional and national levels. After co founding the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) with poet/ activist Bud Osborn in 1998, she was employed as VANDU,s executive program director for 10 years. She encouraged people who use drugs, who are criminalized and labeled mentally ill, to form citizen associations and insist that they design and implement harm reduction programs. Consequently, VANDU had, and continues to have, a major influence on the public dialogue around heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and crack use and the people who are users of these illegal substances. After many years of advocacy, public education, marching in the streets and civil disobedience, Vancouver finally has a government sanctioned injection site and is hosting a second heroin prescription trial. In her current role as a volunteer with the BC Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors, Ann is meeting with marginalized, homeless people who use illegal drugs in Surrey and Abbotsford where bylaws have been implemented banning harm reduction services for drug users. The BC Humanist Association was formed in 1984 and we have a regular attendance of over 30 people at our Sunday meetings. View the slides: https://www.slideshare.net/bchumanist/overdose-prevention-society