Opioid Dialogues

“Our Cowichan Communities Health Network, together with various partners, hosted an event at which people were separated into groups of 10 and encouraged to share their fears and concerns about the current opioid situation. Tables of service providers, members of the business community, parents and other stakeholders participated in a series of conversations before re-grouping to talk about what they had learned. At the end of the evening, the energy in the room of over 100 participants had shifted from ‘You need to do something about the needles’ to ‘What role can I play?’ and ‘I learned a lot because this problem belongs to our communities.’”

-Cindy Lise, Our Cowichan Healthy Communities Network

“I was pleasantly surprised at one table after hearing a mother talk about how badly the police officers had acted when she called 911 on her son who wanted to harm himself. A gentleman was sitting at the table who disclosed he is a police officer and then went on to apologize to the mother for what had happened. Both parties got to share their sides and then they both admitted to how hard it must be to be on the other side of things. Neither party defended their position or tried to make the other agree with them or change their mind.”

-A member of the Surrey North Delta Local Action Team commenting on how dialogue had increased a respectful understanding between community members

“We have selected 3 coffee shops on the island, one in the south, one in the north, and one in town, and have been sitting at them every Friday morning from 9am-12pm (in rotation) with a fresh pot of coffee and snacks to share with whomever joins us. Our ultimate goal is for those who join to walk away having a better understanding of self, and another.”

“In our time thus far, we have connected with a variety of folks of different ages, genders and those with similar and contrasting experiences and perspectives. We have had the opportunity to listen, and observe the shift in others as they listen to stories and have a greater empathetic understanding, regardless of whether they see eye-to-eye on moving forward.”

-Angela Koetzle, Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society (SSICS)

“One of the best things that has happened is that stigma is being addressed and people are seeming to hear other people. I've heard so many stories from people 1:1 it's just unbelievable. Then I tell people there is NO us and them, there really is only us in this situation.”

-Rhonda Jackman, Sunshine Coast LAT

“There was a lively and reflective conversation that ensued that seemed to indicate a willingness to ripple this awareness out to fellow colleagues to embrace a way of being that conveys care and dignity to people who use substances. Although we did not have a formal evaluation to all the feedback has been highly positive and the attendance was as much as I could have dreamed.”

-George Passmore, Sources Surrey White Rock, commenting on November 16 dialogue involving first service providers and people with lived experience.

“There’s been a shift in our community. There’s a feeling of more acceptance. Even on social media we have noticed a difference in attitudes about people who use drugs. We have more allies now.”

-Maple Ridge Opioid Overdose Response Task Group, reflecting on their dialogue efforts, in combination with other community initiatives