Blogs

July 28 is World Hepatitis Day, dedicated to raising awareness for this virus that infects 1 in 12 people worldwide. Hepatitis C is a a blood-borne virus that attacks the liver causing inflammation and scarring. It can lead to long-term complications such as liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer.

The primary risk factor for hepatitis C transmission is injection drug use, through the sharing of infected needles. In Canada, 3 out of 4 new infections are related to injection drug use. In Ottawa, 60% of injection drug users have contracted hepatitis C.

Last Friday, July 20, 2012, we joined together for Drug User Memorial Day at Cathcart Park in the Byward Market. Events included a speaker's circle, a smudge ceremony, beautiful drumming and singing from Ottawa's Aboriginal Elders and a luncheon at St. Bridgid's. The event was organized by the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre & the Drug User's Advocacy League (DUAL) with support from a collection of community organizers, the Youth Services Bureau (YSB) and the AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO).

Dr. Mark Tyndall, head of infectious diseases at the Ottawa Hospital, discusses the need for a supervised injection facility in Ottawa. He compares the situation in Ottawa today to that in Vancouver 10 years ago, before Insite opened.

On Friday July 20, 2012 our friends at DUAL (Drug User Advocacy League) are organizing a Drug User Memorial event in Ottawa's Cathcart Park at 10am to remember friends and loved ones who have touched our lives. Please join us.

This documentary from National Geographic examines Insite, Canada's first supervised consumption site, which provides a safe and clean environment for people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to use drugs and connect with health care & social services.

National Geographic's Taboo: Shooting heroin legally - Part 1

National Geographic's Taboo: Shooting heroin legally - Part 2

Please note that this documentary includes graphic footage of intravenous drug injection.

What might a supervised consumption site look like in Ottawa? Take a look at Insite in Vancouver, which has saved hundreds of lives and millions in health care dollars since it opened in 2003.

Learn more about Insite, North America's first supervised consumption facility, on their website.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our screening of "Bevel Up". The movie exposed many of the challenges that people who use drugs face in accessing health and social services, and demonstrated the essential care that outreach nurses provide. A special thank you to our excellent panelists who fielded an array of questions and comments during the lively discussion that followed the movie.

Right now, the conversation about safe consumption sites is at the forefront in Ontario. You can help us keep this conversation going.

We're excited and honoured to be named among the recipients of PROM Fund 2012!

Now in its fifth year, Promdemonium is Ottawa's radical, community-oriented, gender-bending, bike-loving, enviro-humping, queer-positive, slow dancing, big dress wearing prom that you never had. Not only that, it's also a fundraiser - which means you can get your dance on while supporting great local community initiatives.

We are pleased to announce our next event, a screening of the movie "Bevel Up: Drugs, Users, and Outreach Nursing". The movie will be followed by a panel discussion on the topics of outreach nursing in our community and the need for safer consumption facilities in Ottawa.

On October 1st 2011, one day after the Supreme Court delivered their ruling about INSITE, North America's only sanctioned safe injection facility, I wrote a very stern letter to some select city officials (some of which since moved on..). Here it is (*clears throat*):

Dear Mayor Jim Watson and (now former) Chief of the Ottawa Police Vern White,