[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.81,0:00:06.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember the first time that\NI saw people injecting drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.09,0:00:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had just arrived in Vancouver\Nto lead a research project
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.64,0:00:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in HIV prevention in the\Ninfamous Downtown East Side.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.10,0:00:17.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was in the lobby of the Portland Hotel,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.65,0:00:20.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a supportive housing\Nproject that gave rooms
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.56,0:00:22.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the most marginalized\Npeople in the city,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.96,0:00:25.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the so-called "difficult to house."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.80,0:00:30.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll never forget the young woman\Nstanding on the stairs
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.21,0:00:34.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,repeatedly jabbing herself with a needle\Nand screaming,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.29,0:00:35.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I can't find a vein,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.77,0:00:38.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as blood splattered on the wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.14,0:00:44.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In response to the desperate\Nstate of affairs, the drug use,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.10,0:00:48.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the poverty, the violence,\Nthe soaring rates of HIV,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.78,0:00:53.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Vancouver declared a public\Nhealth emergency in 1997.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.43,0:00:56.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This opened the door to\Nexpanding harm reduction services,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.85,0:00:58.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,distributing more needles,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.53,0:01:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,increasing access to methadone,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.32,0:01:04.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, finally, opening\Na supervised injection site.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.08,0:01:07.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Things that make injecting\Ndrugs less hazardous.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.91,0:01:11.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But today, 20 years later,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.47,0:01:15.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,harm reduction is still viewed\Nas some sort of radical concept.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.81,0:01:19.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some places, it's still illegal\Nto carry a clean needle.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.74,0:01:22.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Drug users are far more likely\Nto be arrested
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.50,0:01:24.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than to be offered methadone therapy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.44,0:01:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Recent proposals for\Nsupervised injection sites
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.26,0:01:31.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in cities like Seattle,\NBaltimore and New York
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.68,0:01:34.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been met with stiff opposition:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.80,0:01:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,opposition that goes against\Neverything we know about addiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.15,0:01:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is that?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.63,0:01:44.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why are we still stuck on the idea
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.25,0:01:50.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the only option is to stop using --\Nthat any drug use will not be tolerated?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.06,0:01:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we ignore\Ncountless personal stories
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.78,0:01:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and overwhelming scientific evidence
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.30,0:01:59.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that harm reduction works?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.98,0:02:04.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Critics say that harm\Nreduction doesn't stop people
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.79,0:02:06.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from using illegal drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.03,0:02:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, actually, that is the whole point.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.77,0:02:12.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After every criminal and societal sanction
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.65,0:02:13.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can come up with,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.40,0:02:17.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people still use drugs,\Nand far too many die.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.10,0:02:21.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Critics also say that\Nwe are giving up on people
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.92,0:02:26.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by not focusing our attention\Non treatment and recovery.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.95,0:02:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it is just the opposite.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.74,0:02:30.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are not giving up on people.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.24,0:02:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know that if recovery\Nis ever going to happen
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.54,0:02:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we must keep people alive.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.73,0:02:38.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Offering someone a clean needle\Nor a safe place to inject
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.33,0:02:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the first step to\Ntreatment and recovery.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.95,0:02:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Critics also claim that harm reduction
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.41,0:02:48.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gives the wrong message to\Nour children about drug users.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.86,0:02:54.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The last time I looked,\Nthese drug users are our children.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.27,0:02:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The message of harm reduction\Nis that, well, drugs can hurt you.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.34,0:03:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We still must reach out to\Npeople who are addicted.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.25,0:03:05.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A needle exchange is not an\Nadvertisement for drug use.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.75,0:03:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Neither is a methadone clinic\Nor a supervised injection site.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.77,0:03:12.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you see there are\Npeople sick and hurting,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.16,0:03:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hardly an endorsement for drug use.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.88,0:03:19.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's take supervised\Ninjection sites, for example.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.92,0:03:23.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably the most misunderstood\Nhealth intervention ever.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.57,0:03:26.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All we are saying is that allowing people
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.27,0:03:30.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to inject in a clean, dry space\Nwith fresh needles,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.13,0:03:32.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surrounded by people who care
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.73,0:03:35.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a lot better than\Ninjecting in a dingy alley,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.89,0:03:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sharing contaminated needles\Nand hiding out from police.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.47,0:03:41.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's better for everybody.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.81,0:03:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first supervised injection site\Nin Vancouver was at 327 Carol Street,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.79,0:03:54.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a narrow room with a concrete floor,\Na few chairs and a box of clean needles.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.15,0:03:56.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The police would often lock it down,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.46,0:04:00.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but somehow it always\Nmysteriously reopened,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.49,0:04:02.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often with the aid of a crowbar.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.72,0:04:05.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would go down there some evenings
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.49,0:04:08.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to provide medical care\Nfor people who were injecting drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.75,0:04:11.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was always struck with the\Ncommitment and compassion
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.94,0:04:14.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the people who operated\Nand used the site.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.24,0:04:18.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No judgment, no hassles, no fear,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.45,0:04:20.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lots of profound conversation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.46,0:04:23.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I learned that despite\Nunimaginable trauma,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.82,0:04:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,physical pain and mental illness,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.92,0:04:30.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that everyone there thought\Nthat things would get better.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.63,0:04:36.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most were convinced that, someday,\Nthey'd stop using drugs altogether.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.58,0:04:41.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That room was the forerunner\Nto North America's
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.97,0:04:46.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,first government-sanctioned\Nsupervised injection site, called INSITE.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.53,0:04:51.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It opened in September of 2003\Nas a three-year research project.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.48,0:04:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The conservative government was intent on\Nclosing it down at the end of the study.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.58,0:05:00.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After eight years,\Nthe battle to close INSITE
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.45,0:05:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,went all the way up to\NCanada's Supreme Court.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.97,0:05:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It pitted the government of Canada
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.77,0:05:08.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against two people with a\Nlong history of drug use
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.13,0:05:10.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who knew the benefits of INSITE firsthand:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.98,0:05:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dean Wilson and Shelley Tomic.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.37,0:05:19.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The court ruled in favor\Nof keeping INSITE open by nine to zero.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.53,0:05:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The justices were scathing in\Ntheir response to the government's case.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.72,0:05:26.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I quote:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.03,0:05:30.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The effect of denying the services\Nof INSITE to the population that it serves
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.69,0:05:32.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the correlative increase
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.09,0:05:35.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the risk of death and disease\Nto injection drug users
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.75,0:05:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is grossly disproportionate to any benefit
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.90,0:05:41.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Canada might derive
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.03,0:05:45.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from presenting a uniform stance\Non the possession of narcotics."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.54,0:05:49.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was a hopeful moment\Nfor harm reduction.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.39,0:05:53.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet, despite this strong message\Nfrom the Supreme Court,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.29,0:05:57.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was, until very recently,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.03,0:06:00.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,impossible to open up\Nany new sites in Canada.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.80,0:06:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was one interesting thing\Nthat happened in December of 2016,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.88,0:06:08.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when due to the overdose crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.96,0:06:10.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the government of British Columbia allowed
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.99,0:06:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the opening of overdose prevention sites.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.12,0:06:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Essentially ignoring the\Nfederal approval process,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.53,0:06:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,community groups opened up\Nabout 22 of these de facto illegal
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.92,0:06:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,supervised injection sites\Nacross the province.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.60,0:06:27.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Virtually overnight,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.01,0:06:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands of people could\Nuse drugs under supervision.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.16,0:06:36.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hundreds of overdoses were reversed\Nby Naloxone, and nobody died.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.53,0:06:40.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, this is what's happened\Nat INSITE over the last 14 years:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.36,0:06:46.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,75,000 different individuals\Nhave injected illegal drugs,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.34,0:06:49.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more than three and a half million times,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.58,0:06:52.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not one person has died.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.16,0:06:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nobody has ever died at INSITE.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.95,0:07:00.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there you have it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.15,0:07:05.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have scientific evidence\Nand successes from needle exchanges
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.79,0:07:08.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,methadone and supervised injection sites.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.85,0:07:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are common-sense,\Ncompassionate approaches to drug use
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.17,0:07:15.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that improve health, bring connection
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.80,0:07:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and greatly reduce suffering and death.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.54,0:07:23.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So why haven't harm reduction\Nprograms taken off?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.63,0:07:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we still think\Nthat drug use is law enforcement issue?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.72,0:07:34.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our disdain for drugs and\Ndrug users goes very deep.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.39,0:07:37.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are bombarded with\Nimages and media stories
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.81,0:07:40.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the horrible impacts of drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.60,0:07:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have stigmatized entire communities.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.96,0:07:49.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We applaud military-inspired operations\Nthat bring down drug dealers,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.81,0:07:53.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we appear unfazed\Nby building more jails
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.17,0:07:58.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to incarcerate people whose\Nonly crime is using drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.96,0:08:01.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Virtually millions of people are caught up
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.90,0:08:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a hopeless cycle\Nof incarceration, violence and poverty
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.06,0:08:11.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that has been created by our drug laws\Nand not the drugs themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.90,0:08:17.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do I explain to people\Nthat drug users deserve care and support
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.05,0:08:18.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the freedom to live their lives
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.75,0:08:24.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when all we see are images of guns\Nand handcuffs and jail cells?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.71,0:08:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's be clear:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.74,0:08:32.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,criminalization is just a way\Nto institutionalize stigma.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.00,0:08:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Making drugs illegal does nothing\Nto stop people from using them.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.89,0:08:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our paralysis to see things differently
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.28,0:08:49.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is also based on an entirely\Nfalse narrative about drug use.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.84,0:08:52.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have been led to believe\Nthat drug users
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.11,0:08:55.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are irresponsible people who just\Nwant to get high,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.91,0:08:58.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then through their\Nown personal failings
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.45,0:09:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spiral down into a life\Nof crime and poverty,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.14,0:09:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,losing their jobs, their families\Nand, ultimately, their lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.19,0:09:10.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In reality, most drug users have a story,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.74,0:09:15.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether it's childhood trauma,\Nsexual abuse, mental illness
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.17,0:09:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a personal tragedy.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.64,0:09:19.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The drugs are used to numb the pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.13,0:09:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We must understand that\Nas we approach people with so much trauma.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.21,0:09:34.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At its core, our drug policies\Nare really a social justice issue.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.21,0:09:39.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While the media may focus on overdose\Ndeaths like Prince and Michael Jackson,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.90,0:09:41.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the majority of the suffering
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.42,0:09:44.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happens to people who are\Nliving on the margins,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.100,0:09:47.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the poor and the dispossessed.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.57,0:09:50.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They don't vote; they are often alone.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.92,0:09:53.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are society's disposable people.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.04,0:09:59.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even within health care,\Ndrug use is highly stigmatized.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.97,0:10:03.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People using drugs avoid\Nthe health care system.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.08,0:10:05.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They know that once\Nengaged in clinical care
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.67,0:10:08.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or admitted to hospital,\Nthey will be treated poorly.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.80,0:10:12.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And their supply line, be it heroin,\Ncocaine or crystal meth
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.35,0:10:13.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be interrupted.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.70,0:10:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On top of that, they will be asked\Na barrage of question
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.16,0:10:22.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that only serve\Nto expose their losses and shame.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.35,0:10:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"What drugs do you use?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.76,0:10:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"How long have you been\Nliving on the street?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.95,0:10:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Where are your children?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.32,0:10:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"When were you last in jail?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.58,0:10:34.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Essentially: "Why the hell\Ndon't you stop using drugs?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.83,0:10:40.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, our entire medical\Napproach to drug use is upside down.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.89,0:10:42.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For some reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.06,0:10:47.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have decided that abstinence\Nis the best way to treat this.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.97,0:10:51.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're lucky enough,\Nyou may get into a detox program.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.42,0:10:54.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you live in a community\Nwith Suboxone or methadone,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.51,0:10:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you may get on a substitution program.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.48,0:11:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hardly ever would we offer people\Nwhat they desperately need to survive:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.47,0:11:04.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a safe prescription for opioids.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.04,0:11:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Starting with abstinence is\Nlike asking a new diabetic to quit sugar
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.90,0:11:14.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a severe asthmatic\Nto start running marathons
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.15,0:11:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a depressed person to just be happy.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.48,0:11:18.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For any other medical condition,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.07,0:11:21.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we would never start with\Nthe most extreme option.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.40,0:11:23.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What makes us think that strategy
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.71,0:11:27.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would work for something\Nas complex as addiction?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.57,0:11:31.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While unintentional overdoses are not new,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.03,0:11:34.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the scale of the current\Ncrisis is unprecedented.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.15,0:11:36.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Center for Disease Control estimated
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.97,0:11:42.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that 64,000 Americans died\Nof a drug overdose in 2016,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.14,0:11:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,far exceeding car crashes or homicides.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.70,0:11:49.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Drug-related mortality is now\Nthe leading cause of death
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.80,0:11:54.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,among men and women between\N20 and 50 years old in North America
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.20,0:11:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Think about that.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.13,0:12:01.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How did we get to this point, and why now?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.29,0:12:04.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a kind of perfect\Nstorm around opioids.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.96,0:12:08.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Drugs like Oxycontin,\NPercocet and Dilaudid
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.74,0:12:14.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been liberally distributed\Nfor decades for all kinds of pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.89,0:12:18.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is estimated that two million\NAmericans are daily opioid users,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.16,0:12:21.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and over 60 million people
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.70,0:12:25.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,received at least one prescription\Nfor opioids last year.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.14,0:12:29.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This massive dump of\Nprescription drugs into communities
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.75,0:12:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has provided a steady source\Nfor people wanting to self-medicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.16,0:12:38.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In response to this prescription epidemic,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.49,0:12:42.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people have been cut off, and this\Nhas greatly reduced the street supply
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.86,0:12:46.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The unintended but predictable consequence
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.53,0:12:48.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is an overdose epidemic.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.36,0:12:52.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many people who were reliant on\Na steady supply of prescription drugs
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.01,0:12:54.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,turned to heroin.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.18,0:12:57.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And now the illegal drug market\Nhas tragically switched
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.74,0:13:00.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to synthetic drugs, mainly fentanyl.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.14,0:13:06.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These new drugs are cheap,\Npotent and extremely hard to dose.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.45,0:13:09.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People are literally being poisoned.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.47,0:13:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can you imagine if this was\Nany other kind of poisoning epidemic?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.70,0:13:18.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What if thousands of people started dying
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.06,0:13:21.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from poisoned meat\Nor baby formula or coffee?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.04,0:13:24.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We would be treating\Nthis as a true emergency.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:24.34,0:13:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We would immediately be\Nsupplying safer alternatives.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.00,0:13:29.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There would be changes in legislation,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.02,0:13:33.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we would be supporting\Nthe victims and their families.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.36,0:13:36.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for the drug overdose epidemic,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.39,0:13:37.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have done none of that.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.43,0:13:42.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We continue to demonize the drugs\Nand the people who use them
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.68,0:13:48.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and blindly pour even more resources\Ninto law enforcement.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.89,0:13:52.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So where should we go from here?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.76,0:13:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, we should fully embrace,\Nfund and scale up
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.92,0:14:00.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,harm reduction programs\Nacross North America.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.49,0:14:03.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that in places like Vancouver,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.41,0:14:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,harm reduction has been a\Nlifeline to care and treatment.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.43,0:14:09.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that the number of overdose deaths
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.82,0:14:12.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would be far higher\Nwithout harm reduction.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.18,0:14:18.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I personally know hundreds\Nof people who are alive today
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.81,0:14:20.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of harm reduction.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.81,0:14:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But harm reduction is just the start.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.75,0:14:28.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we truly want to make\Nan impact on this drug crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.07,0:14:31.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we need to have a serious\Nconversation about prohibition
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.94,0:14:33.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and criminal punishment.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.45,0:14:40.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need to recognize that drug us is\Nfirst and foremost a public health issue
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.36,0:14:47.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and turn to comprehensive social\Nand health solutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.90,0:14:51.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We already have a model\Nfor how this can work.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:51.08,0:14:54.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2001, Portugal was\Nhaving its own drug crisis.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.39,0:14:57.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lots of people using\Ndrugs, high crime rates
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.60,0:14:59.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an overdose epidemic.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.49,0:15:03.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They defied global conventions\Nand decriminalized all drug possession.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.83,0:15:07.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Money that was spent on drug enforcement
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.29,0:15:10.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was redirected to health\Nand rehabilitation programs.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:11.06,0:15:12.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The results are in.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.05,0:15:16.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Overall drug use is down dramatically.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.24,0:15:19.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Overdoses are uncommon.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.84,0:15:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many more people are in treatment,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.12,0:15:26.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and people have been\Ngiven their lives back.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.33,0:15:35.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have come so far down the road\Nof prohibition, punishment and prejudice
Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.16,0:15:37.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have become\Nindifferent to the suffering
Dialogue: 0,0:15:37.77,0:15:41.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have inflicted on the\Nmost vulnerable people in our society.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.32,0:15:45.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This year even more\Npeople will get caught up
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.92,0:15:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the illegal drug trade.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.62,0:15:52.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thousands of children will learn\Nthat their mother or father
Dialogue: 0,0:15:52.94,0:15:56.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been sent to jail for using drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.84,0:16:00.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And far too many parents will be notified
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.90,0:16:05.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that their son or daughter\Nhas died of a drug overdose.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:06.45,0:16:08.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It doesn't have to be this way.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.44,0:16:11.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.62,0:16:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)