We need to talk about Alberta’s Minister of Mental Health & Addiction, @DanWilliamsALTA. He and I both appeared as witnesses at yesterday’s federal Standing Committee on Health, and it was sure clear we are diametrically opposed in our opinions! I asked the committee to acknowledge the toxic drug crisis — to agree that increasingly potent and unpredictable amounts of fentanyl, benzos & other chemicals in the drug supply are the cause of the crisis, so they can debate solutions from a shared understanding of the issue. He insisted it’s a crisis of addiction. He didn’t even mention fentanyl in his opening statement, but he did talk about the oxycodone epidemic in the 90s. (How could he not talk about fentanyl?) It’s DEFINITELY NOT an addiction crisis in BC, since: ➡️ rates of addiction have been going DOWN ➡️ While deaths have been going UP in lockstep with increasing adulterants in the drug supply (See graphs below) But maybe it’s different in Alberta? He said there’s lots of evidence, though he brought none to show the committee 🤔 But what I really want to highlight is his odd, paternalistic approach. First he admitted he has never worked on the frontlines and has no lived experience. He said he’s a policymaker: “I get to decide how to respond to WHAT IS AN ADDICTION CRISIS…” He repeatedly told the committee that HE will do what HE thinks is best, eg: “I oppose safe supply” “I need an off-ramp out of addiction” “I will meet people where they’re at and bring them to a spot where they can have an opportunity at recovery” He disagrees with every expert, clinician and scientist who says toxic drugs are the cause, he disagrees with peer-reviewed research that supports prescribed alternatives, and he insists he’s not an ideologue, that his beliefs are grounded in evidence (that he didn’t bring). He repeatedly demanded the committee have a “serious adult conversation” about the “addiction crisis.” 😮 I gotta say, it all left me a bit perplexed about who’s making the decisions - and how he’s making them - in the province next door 👀 #ToxicDrugCrisis #CANpoli #HarmReduction #Recovery #AllTheTools #HESA