Health and Home

Famous speech delivered by Dr. Martin L. King Jr., on August 28, 1963, at a massive civil rights demonstration at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The speech is about continuing injustice and systemic oppression faced by Afro-Americans and the need for continued militancy and solidarity to fight racism, win civil rights, and develop true democracy in the U.S.

Two form letters that members of the public were asked to sign and send in to the BC Legislative Assembly (Colin Hanson) and to the BC Ministry of Health (Michael Farnworth). The letters demand that these politicians keep their promises of providing adequate funding for mental health services in the province, under the 1998 BC Mental Health Plan. These letters were composed in 2000 when it was clear that government was not contributing the funds it had initially promised and appeared to have no clear or firm commitment for the future.

This report details the epidemiology of health outcomes of drug use, and drug crime data, for Vancouver. It is primarily concerned with health outcomes and crime related to illicit drugs and alcohol. A demographic, health and drug crime profile is given for the Vancouver population as a whole, as well as by Community Health Area. The report presents a series of statistics of health outcomes, including mortality rates, associated with cocaine, heroin and opiates, amphetamines, cannabis, and alcohol use, among both males and females. The report illuminates the deep contrast between what is considered good overall population health for Vancouver, and what is now understood as a public health crisis occurring with regard to drug use in the Downtown Eastside.

A report providing information on the progress being made to address the epidemic of death and disease resulting from injection drug use in British Columbia. Progress in this area is considered in light of the Provincial Health Goals set by the Minister of Health in March 1998. The epidemiology of drug use, and drug-related disease and mortality is summarized for British Columbia, Vancouver, and by individual health regions. Recommendations are provided on measures that should be taken to continue to pursue the Provincial Health Goals related to illicit drugs. These include improving the organization and access levels to addiction services; the provision of child care, mental health services, and housing; the use of a harm reduction approach; and instituting a drug court program. The report argues "the business case" for expanding addiction services, in terms of why it is more economically prudent to provide methadone therapy, detox and rehab services than for government and taxpayers to "pay later" for the care of IDU who have contracted disease due to lack of access to services.