In Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, on a bright Friday morning, 36-year-old TJ Felix has consumed a substantial amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine, a dangerous mix known as “speedball.” Despite the lethal dose, Felix’s prolonged drug use has elevated their tolerance to extreme levels. This risky cocktail is the only barrier preventing Felix from enduring severe withdrawal symptoms.
Felix, an artist and musician from the Splatsin First Nation, has a history of substance abuse dating back to childhood. Despite attempts at treatment, it wasn’t until joining a compassion club with a safe heroin supply that Felix found stability.
Internal reports obtained by the fifth estate disclosed that Health Canada was advised to broaden access to regulated safe drugs but instead reduced support for safe supply programs during the opioid crisis, ultimately ending them in March.
Since 2016, over 53,000 Canadians have succumbed to drug overdoses, predominantly from fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. In response, physicians began prescribing hydromorphone tablets to mitigate the risks associated with street drugs contaminated with fentanyl.
Following the onset of the pandemic, British Columbia saw a surge in clinicians prescribing hydromorphone tablets as safer alternatives. However, issues arose when some of these pills were diverted to the illicit market, where their potency failed to match street drugs.
Despite expert recommendations, Health Canada’s actions fell short of providing a legal and regulated safe drug supply, leading to setbacks in combating the overdose crisis. The rejection of models like compassion clubs deprived individuals of essential support, resulting in dire consequences for vulnerable drug users like Felix.
As the debate on safe supply continues, individuals reliant on street drugs face imminent dangers without access to regulated alternatives. The lack of a comprehensive national safer supply program underscores the ongoing struggle for drug users seeking a pathway to recovery and stability.