A small group of concerned residents in Cobourg, Canada, expressed their opposition to safe supply and harm reduction advocacy efforts in the area. The group gathered at the local farmers’ market on Saturday, September 2 in response to the presence of a vendor from the advocacy group “Moms Stop the Harm” (MSTH) at the market the previous week. MSTH’s mission is to advocate for an end to substance use-related stigma, harm, and death.
According to MSTH’s 2022/2023 Annual Report, the group receives significant funding from taxpayer-funded government organizations, primarily based in British Columbia. British Columbia has been at the forefront of harm reduction efforts for over 30 years and was the province where the first needle exchange program was implemented in 1989. However, despite these efforts, the province experienced the highest rate of toxic drug fatalities in its history this past year. MSTH argues that the situation would be even worse without safe supply and harm reduction advocacy efforts.
However, the group’s presence in Cobourg has been met with opposition and has been linked to an increase in crime and violence in the area. Missy McLean, the Ontario regional director of MSTH and a registered social worker, has been leading these efforts. In March of this year, McLean brought neighboring advocates to Cobourg through unsanctioned overdose prevention sites called Tweak Easy. These sites aim to stop the stigma around illicit drug use while operating in various locations in the town every Friday night.
Initially, the group ran the unsanctioned overdose prevention site in a back alley called Henley’s Arcade, which sparked controversy due to the illegal nature of the activity. After weeks of protest, the town eventually shut down the site. McLean and other advocates were surprised by the shutdown, particularly as it occurred a day after the town ceremoniously raised a flag for International Overdose Awareness Day. The town councilor, who had received death threats from drug users, made the decision to enforce beach bylaws and relocate a homeless encampment near a children’s day camp to a different location.
Cobourg has experienced a significant increase in violent crime, with a nearly 42% spike in 2022 according to the Crime Severity Index. The town witnessed a high-profile murder in broad daylight, causing residents to express concern and fear about coming downtown. Community members, such as Lois-Anne Johns and Jackie Knox, believe that more mental health support is needed in the area. Jeff McLean, who heads the group Northumberland Residents opposing Drugs (NRoD), acknowledges the desire to prevent deaths but also highlights the importance of addressing the enabling aspects of drug use.
Rebel News reached out to the farmers’ market to inquire about the MSTH vendor. They sought clarification on whether the vendor was approved and whether advocacy groups fall under the market association’s rules and regulations. The market’s vendor definitions mainly include businesses involved in selling agricultural, food, art, and artisan products, including homegrown produce and homemade crafts.
In conclusion, the opposition to safe supply and harm reduction advocacy efforts in Cobourg reflects concerns about the impact of these initiatives on crime and violence in the community. While MSTH and its supporters argue for the importance of such efforts in preventing deaths, some residents believe that addressing mental health support and enabling factors is equally crucial. The presence of the MSTH vendor at the farmers’ market raised questions about the approval process for vendors and the categorization of advocacy groups according to market regulations.
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