Today, we received word that the iOAT program will be preserved for its current patients and that an ongoing review will determine if new patients can be accepted into the program in the future. This is incredible, life-saving news for our clients.

On behalf of my clients, I want to thank everyone who advocated for these patients - their families, the addictions experts who weighed in on the case and guided it through, and the medical staff at AHS who never stopped caring deeply for their welfare. This point can’t be understated – this program has been highly politicized by the provincial government (Associate Minister Luan called the program “a mess” in the legislature recently, citing no evidence), but advocates and medical professionals have persisted in a fight for the lives of these patients and have worked tirelessly to ensure they received the medical treatment they need.

Lastly, all the credit possible needs to go to my clients. They are all profiles in courage. Despite the uncertainty and all the difficult moments in this process, they stood up for themselves, their rights and their own lives, enduring the moral and ethical aspersions cast by their own government. There is a special place in this world for people who refuse to stand down or give up the fight to protect the lives of others when no one else will.

This is not the end of this fight, however. We will continue to keep watch over the continued funding of iOAT for these clients and continue to advocate for funding for new clients. This medical treatment saves lives and is an important tool as we fight a battle against opioid overdoses that has escalated in 2020 and into 2021.