**Update as of Tuesday, June 23 at 4:32 p.m.: Vancouver Police say the intersection is now clear in all directions.**
Protestors are currently blocking the intersection at Main Street and Hastings Street and drivers are advised to avoid the area.
Organized by the Drug User Liberation Front, the protest was created in direct response to a staggering increase in overdose deaths in the province from an ever more toxic drug supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May alone, 170 people died of an overdose, topping the previous record of 161 set in December 2016. Of the 170, the presence of fentanyl was detected in 119 cases.
May’s numbers represent a 93% increase over the same month last year and a 44% increase over April 2020.
In a release, rally organizers note that, "The COVID-19 has shut international borders and limited the provision of support services vital for the survival of people who use drugs." As such, they are calling for a 'real' safe supply of drugs in the province.
Photo: @DanaLarsen / Twitter
Photo: @DanaLarsen / TwitterFormed in response to the ever-mounting overdose deaths in B.C. and across Canada, the Drug User Liberation Front looks to provide tangible solutions to the overdose crisis.
Fraser Health’s chief medical health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie said surging unemployment due to the pandemic has added stress that often leads to a rise in the consumption of illicit substances. Compounding the problem, shutdowns at the border have disrupted the flow of drugs, limiting supply and increasing toxicity.
Vancouver Is Awesome has reached out to Vancouver Police and will update the story with further details.
- With files from Gary Mckenna / Tri-City News.
