Overdose prevention 'street degree' helping CRAB Park residents

Graduates of a Vancouverprogram focused on drug overdose preventionsay it has been helpful in their own lives, with instructors saying some students have gone on to find employment atoverdose prevention sites.

Larry Cocksedge, who lives in the city's CRAB Park encampment, is a recent graduate of Vancouver Coastal Health's 'street degree' course in overdose prevention.

He received his certificate on Monday after successfully completing 20 hours of training on a number oftopics, including naloxone administration, advance overdose response and alcohol harm reduction.

"I have [taken] 15 courses but you only need 10 for the certificate," Cocksedgetold CBC News.

The street degree is part of B.C.'s toxic drug emergency response and is funded by theMinistry of Mental Health and Addictions.

WATCH |Health authority offers 'street degree' program in drug overdose prevention:

Health authority offers 'street degree' program in drug overdose prevention

7 months ago

Duration 2:04

A first-of-its-kind certification program provided by Vancouver Coastal Health teaches current and former drug users skills such as how to administer naloxone. Shaurya Kshatri introduces us to some of the people working toward earning a street degree in overdose prevention.

The coursestarted in 2017as part ofa collaboration between PHSCommunity Services Society and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), to provide training for current and former drug usersworking at overdose prevention sites (OPS),as well as other frontline workers respondingto the drug overdose crisis.

Classes are held two days a month at the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall National Historic Sitein Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

The program has since evolved to offertraining at supervised consumption sites andto residents of CRAB Park.

'It helped me gain control over my own habits'

More than 20 people from the tent encampment,including Cocksedge,havetaken the course so far,says Fiona York, an advocate forCRAB Park residents.

"It's been really successful. There's obviously real-world application, it's very practical, there are employment opportunities and it's a great asset," York said.

Sarah Levine, a clinical nurse specialist with VCH and one of the program instructors,says participants are also using the certificationto get jobsor advance their roles at overdose preventionsites and other community services.

"[Our graduates] start working with us as a casual educator [or]end up managing at a different OPSsites or become a drug-checking expert or justgo into treatment or recovery," she said.

Onegraduate,CRAB Park resident Clint Randen, told CBC News the program hashelped him with hisstruggles withsubstance use and addiction.

"[It] helped me gained control over my own habits ... Iam trying to quit and change my life," said Randen, who has worked at a number of overdose prevention sites.

More than 1,000 participants in the course

Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in B.C.for peopleage 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural diseases combined, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.

Recent provincial data reveals there were over 2,500 suspected illicit drug deaths in the province in 2023 equivalent to seven deaths a day.

Sean David Graves, another participant in the street degree program, says he feels lucky.

"I've been dead before. That's how bad it's been, man," Graves said."I was brought back [to life] by the paramedics."

Graves says naloxone has saved his life more than once.

"I make a point of figuring out my schedule to make sure that I at least [have time to] make it to the course," he said.

More than 1,130 people have taken the course, and about80 people have graduated after fulfilling 20 hours of training, according to Levine.

VCH also offers an extended Master's degree in the same program.

"Those are for people who've done 20 separate courses and 40 hours of training,"Levine said.

In addition to overdose prevention, VCH'sstreet degree also covers conflict resolution, public speaking and, as Graves says, valuablelife lessons.

"Just teaching youhow to be a human," he said, "because down here life can be really, really hard."