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Explainer

Members of NANDU, a peer run drug consumption group, sit in chairs watching a nurse demonstrate how to administer Naloxone.

Fact checking claims about NANDU and peer-run safe consumption sites

By Lys Morton
●
Nanaimo
●
March 2, 2023

The Discourse takes a look at some claims about NANDU and safe consumption sites with registered nurse Sarah Lovegrove.

Latest in Explainer
The front of city hall is burned.
The Discourse crash course: Municipal politics 101
By Lys Morton
●
Explainer
●
October 6, 2022

The Discourse tackles the municipal politics questions you were too embarrassed to ask.

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Shipbreaking
A still from a drone video of the Deep Water Recovery shipbreaking site in Union Bay
Q&A: Lawyer speaks on groundbreaking Anti-SLAPP case against Union Bay shipbreaking company
A man in high viz and a woman in a dark rain jacket walk along a beach in the rain. There is a large barge behind them.
Union Bay locals await next steps after controversial shipbreaking lease cancelled
A large barge sits on a beach. It is very rainy. Scrap metal is piled up in front of it, and large tires are piled up to the right.
Deep Water Recovery fined more than $46K in relation to effluent discharge into Baynes Sound
Two men in high visibility outfits stand facing away from the camera. One points at a large ship to his left.
Deep Water Recovery executives say shipbreaking operations aren’t polluting Union Bay
Quw'utsun Stories
graphic art of a thunderbird and killer whale by Shawn Johnny
The story of S-hwu-hwa’us and Qul-lhanumutsun
The Cowichan River is int he bottom third of the photo. The rest of the photo is taken up by rocky cliffs that have some small trees and greenery growing on them. The top left corner of the photo is a patch of cloudy sky.
Sta’lo’ Mustimuhw: A story of the river people
The story of Sheshuq’um, the monster at Octopus Point
Mount Prevost Swuq'us
The ancient story of Swuq’us
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Overdose Emergency
Hilary Nester, a social service worker student, burns a heart with a name of someone they were close to who died from the toxic drug crisis at a Grief Fire event at Vancouver Island University on April 14, 2026. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.
Nanaimo’s toxic drug emergency at 10 years
An incredulous Nanaimo City Councillor Hilary Eastmure responds to a comment from Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog during a debate on provincial drug policy during the Dec. 1, 2025 city council meeting. Screenshot courtesy of the City of Nanaimo.
Nanaimo city council votes down proposed drug policy letter
Photo of Sarah Lovegrove standing outside the doors to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre where Nanaimo City Council meets wearing a Nanaimo Area Network of Drug users shirt,
Motion to close Nanaimo’s Overdose Prevention Site withdrawn
Activists carry a mock coffin at the march for International Overdose Awareness Day in Nanaimo on Aug. 29, 2025. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.
‘Like a bomb dropping’: Safer supply changes leave patients struggling for stability
Photo of a woman standing in front of a fence with metal hearts bearing the names of people who died from overdoses.
Drop in 2024 Nanaimo overdose deaths still ‘a fraction’ of overall trend upwards
Photo of a woman with pink hair and a pink sweatshirt and black ball cap.
Sudden changes to safer supply program a ‘huge mistake,’ says Nanaimo patient
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