Since COVID-19 arrived in Nova Scotia a year ago, we have been doing what we can to keep ourselves, our loved ones and others safe. We have masked up, social distanced and ensured our neighbours in isolation have what they need, ranging from grocery drop-offs to dog walks. We have shown Canada and the world […]
harm reduction
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax should follow Vancouver’s lead and decriminalize drugs
While the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of slowing, another Canadian public health issue is worsening: The opioid crisis. Across the country, we are experiencing record-high numbers of drug-related deaths. Last week, in a move to mitigate this crisis, Vancouver city councillors unanimously voted to request that the federal government decriminalize […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Surviving Canada’s overdose crisis under the shadow of COVID-19
In the midst of two public health outbreaks, we seem to be forgetting about the overdose crisis, which has taken over 14,000 of the most marginalized and vulnerable lives in Canada. Last week, prime minister Justin Trudeau announced the first $1 billion for the COVID-19 response—which has eight deaths in Canada to date—while right next […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The methadone method
In 2014, John spent the Christmas holidays alone, curled up in a ball on his bed. He’d run through his monthly opioid prescription in the first 12 days of December—like he’d done every month for the last two years of his life—and had to wait until the new year before he could go back to […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Matthew MacDougall says dignity saves lives
Sometimes, when you’re talking about addictions recovery, you hear of the need to do a 180 degree turn to change one’s life. In my case, it was a deeply-rooted 360 spin. I was born in Halifax and spent the majority of my childhood and teens there. I graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 2001. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The Coast’s back to school guide to drugs
A survey last spring by researchers at UBC says young people hate being told to ‘just say no’. The truth is, there are drugs out there. You might meet people who do them. If you decide to try them, there are risks. Last year, 56 people in Nova Scotia died of accidental opioid overdoses. We don’t want […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Dalhousie nursing students are learning about Naloxone
T his year during orientation week, some Dalhousie nursing students, faculty and staff will be learning about Naloxone—a temporary antidote to opioid overdose—in a special workshop and training on September 5. The program is led by Martha Paynter and Brianna Richardson, both PhD nursing students at Dalhousie, in partnership with Direction 180—a community-based methadone clinic […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council talks about the pros and cons of surveillance cameras in public spaces
Deputy mayor Tony Mancini brought an information report from staff about the surveillance Camera Pilot Project for Public Spaces to council for discussion this week. In May 2017, council asked for a staff report on the use of surveillance cameras in public spaces looking at both permanent and temporary camera systems, using the Farrel Street […]
