The Daily Vancouver’s Unconventional Approach to Its Fentanyl Crisis
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Sep 2, 2022 Stephanie Nolen, a global health reporter for The New York Times, sheds light on Vancouver's bold strategies to combat the fentanyl crisis. She discusses the city's innovative 'safer supply' program, which prescribes fentanyl directly to users, aiming to reduce overdose deaths. Personal stories illustrate how this approach has transformed lives and shifted the conversation around addiction. Nolen emphasizes the need for a compassionate view on drug use and highlights the complexities faced by both individuals and healthcare providers in this ongoing battle.
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Vancouver's Downtown East Side
- Stephanie Nolen describes Vancouver's Downtown East Side, observing people using fentanyl openly.
- She highlights the urgency of the opioid crisis and the search for solutions.
Vancouver's Drug History
- Vancouver has a history of innovative approaches to drug use, driven by its role as a port city and transit point for drugs.
- The introduction of fentanyl significantly worsened the opioid crisis due to its high potency compared to heroin and morphine.
Harm Reduction in Vancouver
- Vancouver has implemented harm reduction strategies like needle exchanges and supervised injection sites for nearly 30 years.
- These strategies aim to mitigate the dangers of drug use.
