Life on East Hastings | The Drug Epidemic of Vancouver

[@BrandonBuckingham]

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[@BrandonBuckingham]

for anyone interested in supporting the channel and seeing the extended cut of this episode, think about supporting on patreon!

[@thebuckinghamshow]

this is my second channel for anyone interested

[@Ashley_Schaeffer]

Always carry protection downtown... The crime is soo random out here... The Government is subsidizing the decline of society, meanwhile the "safe-sites" are getting millions in Gov't grants...

[@roseoverdose6451]

hey brandon, i noticed you showed a headline about airbnb bans bringing rent down. there's an interesting story behind that ban. there is a hotel lobby group (the BC hotel association) that paid a guy named David Wachsmuth for that study... and the BCNDP government closed down hundreds of legal (zoned, licensed etc.) BnB vacation rentals here, based on his study, to appease huge hotel corporations. claimed it was to help with affordability. zero unbiased evidence. just what the hotel lobby group paid for in that study. it made ZERO impact of rents, and a bunch of innocent people got screwed. many lost their entire life savings, and went bankrupt. the BCNDP gov. sold them out for big corporations. same thing happened in New York and the same guy David Wachsmuth was also behind a study funded/used there by another hotel lobby group. no one is covering this story. corrupt as hell.

[@roseoverdose6451]

@@Ashley_Schaeffer its important to clarify it's the BCNDP gov. that is subsidizing it. no other party was supporting it. the conservatives wanted to close them down.

[@caz8577]

"i live in a shelter im trying to downsize brother" probably one of the funniest things ive heard in awhile. That guy's great hope stuff gets better for him

[@kingdavidtheboss3994]

he did not get enough credit for that 😭😭

[@caz8577]

@kingdavidtheboss3994 real bro was quick with it too

[@Dævïd9-11]

Ryan long must be from there

[@johnoutside84]

TikTok video every time he snip some s hit

[@cranerd]

Timestamp?

[@OG_SayMoreHomie]

I like how videos like this don't feel like im being preached to. He just shows how insane these places are in the most organic way possible and you get to feel what its like.

[@BrandonBuckingham]

@@OG_SayMoreHomie i really empathize with anyone suffering from addiction or homelessness. genuinely.

[@youtrippin_]

@@BrandonBuckinghamwheres the toronto video been waiting on that

[@ShittyBill]

You get it. Keep searching like this and forget any tv ish.

[@beejuice7972]

@@BrandonBuckingham Cold ass ridin'.

[@anarchistbunny3339]

to take a walk around the ghetto you see that kind of stuff all the time.. nothing new is happening here.. its been this way for along time now.. ppl are JUST now noticing... so fuckin stupid.

[@lukewarmwater5320]

I used to be an outreach worker at Vancouver Native Health and we were up and down this area all day, this is one of the first and only videos where the presenter isn't just hiding a camera and walking down the street being exploitative, he's actually engaging people that live downtown and being respectful by listening and letting everybody talk, instant subscription...

[@DPGuideToEverything]

I tried the same, talking to people, including a lady working in a safe injection site. Didn't end well. I should've hidden the camera but didn't want to at the time. There's a reason other creators don't record this type of videos in the area. It's infinitely safer anywhere in the States, including LA and SF, where you can easily record whatever you want while still being respectful, especially to those who don't wanna be on the camera.

[@crustinagohard9049]

IMO he is one of the best in YT doing these types of interviews. LOVE him and his channel.

[@kwimms]

Who cares... these 'people' don't deserve respect and have nothing interesting to say.

[@crustinagohard9049]

@@kwimms looks like the same could be said for yourself

[@RoyalReserve303]

BC Natives are so unbearable..only experiences I’ve had with them are horrible. They expect everything given to them and don’t reciprocate anything. Drunken native asks to use my phone to make a call and tries to run off with it(he was to fat, drunk and slow so he threw it back at me when i chased him)..all they want is free passes

[@SepticShmegma]

Im from Vancouver. This is the first video of yours ive seen. Youre a great journalist or interviewer. You let them talk, and you generate sincere empathy. New sub sir. Keep up the excellent work. Driving these streets really humble me and makes me grateful and appreciative, because i easily could have ended up there. Couple of old friends of mine live down there. Its unfortunate. Peace brotha

[@EldgardHammerheart-m9g]

You can easily end up there...if you become a drug addict. Let it go with the bleeding heart.

[@jojojojojojojojojojojojob]

this is the style of andrew channel 5 news. he lets people talk and speak their mind. if you like this style of journalism check him out. he started this style of content.

[@keppakappa5033]

​@@EldgardHammerheart-m9gOr yknow, those with a physical disability that makes it hard for them to work. Or those that simply can't find work that'll pay enough to cover rent. Or people who have lost their families for one reason or another and have nowhere else to turn to when they lose their job and still have thousands in student loan debt hanging over them. Or, I guess you could specifically focus only on the drug thing. Which is an actual legitimate issue that should be addressed with compassion and understanding rather than ignorance and hostility. Also bud, you're deluding yourself if you think being a drug addict = instant homelessness. There are just as many addicts in big fancy mansions as there are on the streets, you just don't get to see them suffering from it on the streets bc they can just spend the weekend recovering in daddy's out of town guesthouse when things get too out of hand, or instant access to the best rehab centres in the country should daddy think they went too far. tl;dr: it ain't about the drugs or the fact that vulnerable people are addicted to them, you three-inch fool.

[@SmallScreenCo]

@@jojojojojojojojojojojojob Except less memes and silly stuff.

[@jojojojojojojojojojojojob]

@@SmallScreenCo its the silly stuff that makes the videos great to awesome.

[@undercoverreseller205]

I lived and worked in an SRO in Gastown in the 90s. The Riverview closure and the drugs switching from heroin to rock was a nightmare. There was still a lot of humanity and I met some of the kindest people there, fentanyl is just the final nail in their coffins. Thanks for the real coverage, I hope you made some time to have conversations that weren't all about the troubles - there's some fascinating insights to be garnered from many of these people.

[@TheLifeOfGarrett]

my experience of east hastings street: 1. A homeless lady dropping her pants and pushed out a poop against a window to a store that wouldn't give her free stuff 2. A homeless guy using the fountain out-front of a hotel to swim and drink beer in 3. my favorite of them all and probably the most important and meaningful thing I've ever been told, "if you find 1000 four leaf clovers one is bound to be blue" - an addict on east hastings.

[@og_tokyo]

not East Hasting, but California 2021, parking lot one block east from the venice pier, the lot with a mcdonalds, anyways, waiting for valet to get my car, this homeless dude, and a homeless tranny got into an argument and buddy pulls out a knife and they start going at it. 2nd day in LA.

[@yourwrongloserhaha]

for me it’s people assuming i sell shit cause i’m black and asking to blow me for drugs happens at least once a month

[@MedicineofSound]

I am having trouble comprehending number 3, what does that mean ?

[@skroogemcFück]

​@@yourwrongloserhaha did you ever take that offer?😂

[@kltil5082]

@@yourwrongloserhaha That happens to everyone, not cause you're black

[@matthiasvergote9537]

Been sober for 8 months. Best choice of my life and for everyone struggling: it does get better. ❤

[@margaretthatcher6828]

Well done!!! 17+ yrs here. It does get easier but some early days were total hell. Keep it up.

[@KevinoftheCosmos]

congrats, man. I wish you strength to keep clean

[@brucejohnson863]

You got this ma boi

[@alpacaman6256]

Congratulations man. Sorry to ask you this - but what do you personally think of groups giving out needles or drugs? I hold no bias whatsoever, I just see pros and cons to both sides.

[@dth91]

@@alpacaman6256I’m a recovering addict as well and I would have been all for this idea up until recently, I have seen how safe injection sites go in my area and they sure didn’t last long, multiple violent incidents including a shooting in the building. I would have had a much harder time quitting if I could have just walked down the street and gotten top notch fent any time I wanted

[@n521]

I worked the front desk of an SRO for 3 years in downtown Vancouver. The things I've seen are INSANE.

[@BrandonBuckingham]

@@n521 i heard so many nightmare stories about SRO’s

[@THE_MOONMAN]

I can only imagine. Been to like 2 SRO and they seem insane

[@wyattritch9991]

Worked at two of Atira’s SRO shit holes for three years too, so I know if anything ‘insane’ is a understatement.

[@Wuqz]

i stayed in an SRO paying $500/mo rent then ended up getting stabbed and robbed by other residents within the first month or so. Ontario, especially here in Ottawa is essentially the same as VA atp. maybe just on a slightly smaller scale.

[@904_noah]

School Resource Officer?

[@nbadyal1498]

Thank you for taking the time and talking to everyone, regardless of their situation. A lot of these people have so many stories. They're unfortunately affected by circumstances and drugs so heavily that cause them to leave their families and homes to chase the high. It isn't until it's too late that they realize that there may not be a way out. My dad was in a similar situation when he left our house last December, and it wasn't until his passing from an OD in August, that we found out he had moved to Hastings. That became my moment of realization that these people are truly victims of their circumstances and it's sad they're treated the way they are.

[@carlyobenauer]

I lived on the corner of Dunlevy and Gore after completing treatment 16.5 years ago when I was 20. It was insane then and it’s worse now. I’m grateful to say I’m still clean and sober and I thank you for giving these people voices and shedding light on this ❤ I pray for everyone down there that is battling addiction and or mental health issues ❤

[@brutusisadog]

I (accidentally) went to gore st yesterday. I'm so glad you got out of there ❤❤

[@rebounds4vc410]

as someone from vancouver i wanna say thank you for covering this topic while being respectful and informative unlike other youtubers who tried to do videos on this street

[@danhorton1671]

Information you didn't like is still information that's true...

[@jayp6146]

@@danhorton1671i think this person is saying this guy actually interviews individuals unlike some who make dramatic "omg this guy is trying to kill us for filming" scenes to gain views

[@DPGuideToEverything]

@@jayp6146 But people there actually do want to kill you for filming, so that's also a part of the whole story.

[@rebounds4vc410]

​@@DPGuideToEverything i mean they only wanna kill you for filming if your taking advantage of the coummunity trying to make a cheque by making the place look shittier than it already is. cough, cough, tyler olivera... ive lived close to the dtes my whole life some of the most friendliest and down on there luck folks.

[@danhorton1671]

@@DPGuideToEverything exactly, it's still true even if you don't like it

[@napiermail3592]

Bro I been asking you for months to walk through my hood. Thank you. I'm sure it wasnt pleasant or easy. But I really appreciate the light and quick minutes you gave my city. Thanks for not sugar coating it. What you people seen here is 1 for 1. Be safe

[@badfeng]

The DTES is an iceberg. Why, for example, was Willy Pickton protected, allowed to murder women for years and years there (until it became such an open secret that the RCMP finally had to act)? Was it because he also may have helped local organized crime get rid of dead bodies? Why are the "welfare hotels" (which are generally policed by organized crime elements and in which anything can happen) allowed to offer such substandard, nightmarish accommodations? I worked in the DTES for years and it wasn't until later that I understood what it exists for. The DTES is basically a machine that transmutes human suffering (of both addicts and their victims, given that many addicts fund their habits through theft) into riches for higher level organized crime members, politicians who presumably get kickbacks, and real estate developers. In Vancouver we were called "racist" for pointing out inordinate foreign ownership of residential real estate back in the day. It turns out that this was a symptom of money laundering. The street drug money, to casino money, to real estate pipeline came to be known as "the Vancouver Model". It contributed to Vancouver's absurdly high real estate prices and rents.

[@dallassegno]

Are you kidding? Broski is paying bills by doing this.

[@pis4190]

Bro needs to come to Hamilton Ontario…

[@TheAceuu]

@@pis4190Indian infested

[@Jwitdaplays]

@@dallassegnodoesn’t matter. Brandon is out here on foot shining more light a serious crisis and you’re behind a computer screen jerkin your meat and talkin smack. There’s some perspective for ya, learn from it

[@Rileytrankle]

In 2016 I went on a spring break trip with 2 friends, one of our stops was Vancouver. We wandered around at night looking for food and ended up, undenounced to us, on a long stretch of East Hastings. That memory will always be with me. It was literally like The Walking Dead, SO many people. Later we had a EMS guy tell us to avoid that area, told him too late. Sad.

[@13igBird]

Unbeknownst*

[@mushyhoney9817]

It's way worse now than then too :(

[@miketownsend4416]

2010 winter olympics were wild. Telling unsuspecting tourist families to turn around just a few blocks after waterfront while we were hitting up red room and club 23 😅

[@lilyandlou7669]

​@@mushyhoney9817 naw it was the same shit

[@badfeng]

And as bad as it is on the street, it's worse in the "welfare hotels". The DTES is a ghetto that's allowed to exist solely for the sake of profits (money laundering, etc.).

[@b24s2]

Thank you for this, my brother died of an overdose earlier this year. It’s sad that the government has not changed any part of this problem for the last 20+ years.

[@merrylynnallison6922]

My older brother was trapped down here from 1982 until 2017 when he died of liver cancer. My brother always told me that drug addicts are a way of keeping people employed. No one gets out of the DownTown East Side. He lived in a tiny room filled with garbage no running water and one toilet shared between 30 people....... Please God help these people. Rest in Peace 'ERV.'

[@DOGSON_705]

Thank you for reviewing the epidemic we have in Canada. I've lost too many friends to this shit and it needs to come to light more. 🙏 I live on the other side of Canada, it's this way everywhere, sadly.

[@grapograc]

Not sure where you’re at but, Ontario and Quebec are no where near Vancouver right now.. you’re out of your mind

[@CZAR.6]

@@grapograc Ontario and Quebec aren't as bad but the Maritimes are proper fucked up

[@drongomaster]

Winnipeg is messed up in the same way

[@ThePatrix1879]

Every downtown core in Canada has a homeless/addiction problem. Vancouver has the worst since our climate is not as bad in the winter. There are many on Hastings and Main from the east coat and prairies.

[@notastone4832]

@@CZAR.6 ontario is fucked in a different way.. we got invaded by india.

[@BiggaMyMan]

Fent Luigi was my favorite character in this episode.

[@Americana-ec]

Fentuccine

[@cozyfrog5535]

Quebecer !

[@liftedgifted6010]

my fav was female Little Nicky

[@MrIneedalifenow]

This coverage is actually amazing. Well done!

[@salishaunty]

I just found out my uncle you interviewed has now found a home

[@taylermightdoit1547]

I pray these people can find the light, get sober and do good in life. I’ve been through addiction and i know it’s hard but there’s always good!

[@Jeff-xz8ut]

Thanks for this one, really hits home. I've seen East Hastings first hand, and we have our own small version of this starting in Saskatoon, with our main shelter recently closing down. I'm of the opinion that a lot of this chaos is caused by the concentration of these services, not the sole existence of them. I hope we're able to see society start healing.

[@Zackjjames]

That was an incredibly good pitch, especially for a tweaker... "How cheap we talkin?", "Cheap like I live in a shelter and I'm trying to fucking downsize brother" 34:34

[@BrandonBuckingham]

that guy had a hilarious sense of humor, i really liked him

[@kademclean1243]

he's legit a great salesman hahaha

[@ericpettyfishing]

I dislike tweakers

[@adrianfitzpatrick4638]

He's a comedy genius would make anybody grin 😁

[@CanadianFitted]

@@BrandonBuckingham Forreal the guys here tweaking in Toronto are the same, I liked them and bought some of them food even though I was dealing with them I made sure they ate before they lifted off, shit hurts me still it’s sad as hell.

[@Zackjjames]

I was born and raised on East Hastings. Having to avoid the needles and humans on the ground on my way to school was one of my biggest memories living there. In the suburbs now, as city living is nearly impossible in the lower mainland unless you don't mind seeing dead people and smelling crack smoke constantly

[@haley1104]

Brilliant video. I appreciate this interviewer out of the others who have come to the DTEs, he actually has the empathy and humanity to not only sit right next to these struggling individuals on the literal sidewalk but to actually listen to their stories. Great work.

[@inquizitive1]

I visited in October coming from New Zealand. Our uber dropped us off in the wrong end of Hastings at night and we had to walk right through to get to our dinner venue. It was crazy sad seeing and smelling so many people sparking up. We have nothing like that in NZ and it’s hard to fathom how a country can be seen as developed when you have places like this

[@FULLSENDMMA]

Lived in Vancouver for 30 years now, East Hastings has been like this the entire time. We would always have to drive through it on our way to Canucks and Lions games as a kid and it’s sad to say we just got used to seeing it this way.

[@kltil5082]

Exactly, it's so annoying to see people who don't even live here saying "this is what drug legalization does" etc. It looked exactly the same when it was totally illegal except there was more violence, stress and wasted tax money locking up someone for merely possessing drugs. No matter what the law is people here are going to be the Vancouverites that they are, we don't listen to the rest of the province because our situation is different than other cities. The VPD didn't even listen to the law, they were acting like drugs were decriminalized before it even happened because they know first hand putting people in jail for it causes way more harm than good. Prop to the officers in Vancouver, they are so much more chill than the RCMP

[@WUTANGCLAN705]

We don't like it. Canadians hate it, but then again, Vancity is an extreme left city

[@acmhfmggru]

​@@kltil5082man, read your own comment. You say people blaming legalization are wrong and then blame the de-facto decriminalization from the 90s yourself.

[@thenorthernwill]

​@acmhfmggru 💯. 420 in the 90's and 00's was always a massive event, especially at the art gallery. Cops did nothing. Dispensaries were everywhere, and slowly became normalized long before 2016. The culture of substance abuse is long in Vancouver, like San Fran. We are their twin city to the north, and the evidence of mutually failed policy is almost endless.

[@AlCatSplat]

@@WUTANGCLAN705 "Capitalist" and "extreme left" are antonyms.

[@MaximumPasta]

From one warzone to another. My man is out here in some of the coldest places on earth. Respect.

[@kdawgthechef2855]

Been living in Vancouver for 3 years now and finally am not working in the DTES. I feel for the people and understand that at one point a lot of them were probably like me who came to this city for opportunity or a change of pace and ended up where they are now. It’s unfortunate how much being around all of it desensitizes you to the street and others like it in Vancouver though so I appreciate you putting this up.

[@dalayneejo]

awesome job as always brandon, thank you for your journalistic integrity in treating these people as human beings and allowing them to tell their life stories. so many of them are so well spoken and their perspective is so appreciated.

[@HyperLethal0100]

Thanks for making this. Born and raised in Van, It’s a nightmare dystopia, worse than I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been to LA.

[@kayne2075]

“Nightmare dystopia”😂

[@hardcodedsoftware4212]

​@@kayne2075 Literally a shithole lol

[@9ryo]

@@kayne2075 for some people, it genuinely is. people see vancouver in different shades of grey, but if you can't admit its some sort of hell then you've definitely not been near hastings.

[@b12deficient24]

@@9ryo It’s bad but it’s a relatively small number of people. Go to New Delhi or most major African cities and you’ll see homelessness and suffering on a radically different scale.

[@ibezzant]

My first day as a tourist in Canada I was walking around Vancouver at night and it was so nice, then I stumbled into DTES. It was like walking straight on to the set of the Walking Dead. I've been to some horrible places in 3rd world countries and in the US but Hastings was the scariest.

[@kayne2075]

Lmaooo east Hastings is the scariest? Come on bro what are you talking about.

[@RhombusProductions]

I believe you. I've lived here all my life so I'm used to it.

[@ibezzant]

@@kayne2075 over the last 25 years I've been to the Tenderloin, South Bronx, South Central, Skid Row. Bad parts of Nicaragua. Hastings was the most sketchy. You go there at night and tell me how you feel.

[@josephmonkele5992]

​@ibezzant Been there at night several times. Saw a lot of people on drugs, but never felt in danger

[@wishteria234]

@@josephmonkele5992 I used to work down there, it is very dangerous and disgusting.

[@12Mparry]

I'll be 2 years sober off opiates on the 22nd of this month. Stay strong if you're dealing with an addiction and know it gets better. I have a second chance at life and I'm not going to waste it !!

[@kayblinky]

Proud of you. I hit 5 years in June. Its a great feeling.

[@kobedagoat6395]

How? I aint to addicted 20 mg oxy a day just to mellow me out so i can smoke weed all day and dont get burned out. Still hard to quit tho

[@12Mparry]

@@kayblinky Thank you, & that's awesome! I'll get there one day hopefully

[@adamnielsen3879]

I’m a recovering addict with three 3 years clean and sober. I spent a few years on the streets of the dtes and this only scratches the surface, it’s a lot darker than you think.

[@Sar-ahG]

This time for you is more dangerous than ever.. ( active recovery) you can’t go back!!

[@Turok.2009]

I love the guy you let hold the mic tho. I’d love to see him take that passion somewhere. Hope he gets to a better place.

[@thebuckinghamshow]

this is my second channel for anyone interested. lots of extra content on here and recently dropped a diss track towards akademiks on here

[@tonyelectionfraud669]

BUCKETHEAD SHOW! BUCKETHEAD

[@skunkylove7131]

Who is Akademiks? Never heard of her.

[@waddy3985]

I've been on your stuff since you did the metokur interview, love your stuff bro keep doing what you do best!

[@TheSecondMouse]

Sick!

[@cozy_2X]

Bro I live in Vancouver! If you want me to show ya around shoot me a message!

[@haydengawlak4107]

hey brandon, i really appreciate you showing what it’s realistically like in vancouver. shedding light on the issues in Canada that seem to not be getting solved, continuing to get worse. it would be amazing if you’d be able to come to Edmonton in alberta Canada to show the issues that we’re also experiencing inside Canada’s drug epidemic. People are having to build elaborate shelters to survive, it can get up to -40 degrees here in the winter. people are building underground/ caves with support beams in spots that have been undetected for months, one was even under the high level bridge in the city. the housing crisis is such a big issue among canada, there have been shelters with running power, electricity and many other amenities like a working washing machine and running water. there was even tiled floors in the whole shelter bro😭 a man has came forward saying he had been living there since last winter, but it seems to have been build many years ago though. it be awesome if you’d consider to come over a province to add onto this episode 🥹 there’s so many people that appreciate you reporting on this💖

[@haydengawlak4107]

also i can’t explain all the issues to the full extent and how bad it actually is here, it’s very similar to vancouver in its issues and violence here.

[@EldgardHammerheart-m9g]

And I wonder why it continues. Hmmmmm.

[@Estianavara]

Legalizing drugs is a political, passive way to tell addicts, "You're on your own, but we'll profit from your internal demons & vices throughout your struggles!"

[@Levittchen4G]

Omg that made me tear up. I agree, especially without any other help. It's so sad!

[@TheRedOGRE]

Ok my stance as a recovered addict. As someone who lived in Vancouver, got addicted to heroin, then it switched to fent. I've OD'd. I've seen friends die. I've been sober for 6 years now. Enabling doesn't help. Safe injection sites are a good thing, but also you need to be tough on addicts. The only reason I got sober was a couple of cops started harassing me and making my life miserable, arresting me, and i started facing some serious consequences. that's why I got sober , i said fuck this. If I don't get clean im going to jail or dying. These people need consequences. Their life needs to get to a point where it's so shit they decide to clean up their act. These people are living hard lives, but they are not at rock bottom. You can't help people like this. Not by giving them money, shelter etc. It's sad but that's how i feel having lived it. I got by on people giving me money and trust me that will never work. Things need to get so shitty you decide to change.

[@Dragula5x]

You're making the country a better place just by being yourself

[@keppakappa5033]

@@TheRedOGRE Cool beans buddy, but that's your story and how bad it had to get for you. Not everyone is going to respond well to the constant harassment and in my own personal experience, will often double down on the self destructive behavior when called out on it. That's how my dad lost his life; addicted to cocaine and an alcoholic, had friends just like you that would try and "harass" him into stopping for his own good rather than approaching him with compassion and understanding. He offed himself 7 years ago. Wonder if it was because those who were harassing him made him feel alone and unsalvagable. I'll never know for sure, now, but I can come to a pretty safe conclusion that it most certainly did not HELP.

[@TheRedOGRE]

@keppakappa5033 I'm not saying harass people. I'm saying don't give them money and especially don't enable them. Life needs to get to the point where they decide you know what this is shit I need to change it. If people are enabling them they'll never hit rock bottom. There is no harassing simple you can't help an addict so don't try to help especially if that help is enabling them

[@Dragula5x]

@@keppakappa5033 if he were more of a man he would have persevered and dropped his dead-weight friends, instead he chose to continue down the path of self-destruction and came to the inevitable end.

[@AP-wq9dv]

I have lived on West Hastings for 12 years and the crisis and violent crime has become much worse. Random attacks and harassment are rampant even in broad daylight. Yes, the area has always been troubled but it is awful now.

[@rob-j9i]

As a Vancouverite, just two minutes into the video I can tell this is such a more well-rounded take than that bs trash video from Tyler Oliveira. Can't just talk about decriminalization as a factor without mentioning the cost of living crisis, or many of the other factors, or the existence of this epidemic long before and after decriminalization.

[@rob-j9i]

And it's letting people just share their experiences without dehumanizing them or using them as pawns to push a message

[@J0hN_TF]

That guy's video was so ass, dude had an opinion going into it and the whole video was just confirmation bias

[@aleco678]

That guy is a goof

[@eviohh]

Found the NDP supporter.

@rob-j9i It wasn’t an epidemic before decriminalisation. The addicts themselves say it’s made things 100x times worse. Wtf does cost of living have do to with people taking fent? “Damn rents high better go start a drug addiction that will cost me everything” lol

[@emmamarck5967]

thank you for this video, 39:30 this lady is so strong and I need to hear her voice every day... as a law student this resonates very hard

[@J0hN_TF]

I used to work here as a security guard. The company made it very clear that you could die or contract hepatits/hiv etc if you're not careful. Loved that job though, hours and pay were shit but I was never bored haha.

[@TheGoobMeista]

Brandon shedding light on warzones, drugzones, and anything inbetween will always be interesting, Thanks for shedding light on these people. Much love and Respect.

[@Zalinki]

Thank you for a more honest and broader approach to covering a city that's near and dear to me. Lots of other povertyporn slop out there with millions of views about Vancouver that really skew things.

[@BrandonBuckingham]

thank you for watching my video. i got my bachelors in animation and have been watching your videos for years

[@Zalinki]

@BrandonBuckingham Haha, I'm honored, cheers

[@wpgboi8166]

It’s always a great day when Brandon Buckingham posts a video

[@BrandonBuckingham]

@@wpgboi8166 thank you so much for watching

[@frenchiecult666]

As someone who lives in Vanshitty. The DTES where opioids/ safe supply are provided to the addicts with tax payers money in a failed “experiment” by our government. Addicts sell the safe supply to buy dirty drugs. Open drug use is everywhere in this disgusting city. It’s turned into the apocalypse. It’s absolutely mind blowing how this is happening! People are one pay cheque away from being homeless. Years ago if a foreigner (China) had a million dollars in their bank account they could move to Vancouver. It became a haven of laundered money from China especially in real estate and the city had been utterly fucked since. Before the panorama I felt safe walking in the dtes at 3am…. Now I wouldn’t walk down there in daylight. This is such an accurate video of everything that is happening in Vancouver. Thank you for this incredible video Brandon. You truly explained throughly wtf is happening respectfully and with dignity to the people you spoke too. Thank you.

[@MissDarlaDeville]

So sad 😢

[@MissDarlaDeville]

😮

[@Sunshine6oh4]

As a recovering addict, legalization of drugs is not the answer. People need help with their mental health. We need more treatment centers, a stable safe and affordable place to go to after and the most important part is long term wrap around resources to help you while you are in recovery. You can't send activr addicts to treatment and then throw them right back into the same environment that they came from. It doesn't work.

[@jacobgaunt5838]

The lady at the end brought tears to my eyes . I am a proud Canadian and this video hit me on a whole different level , these people deserve a fair chance at life , and we need our government to make changes ASAP . Pray for us 🇨🇦

[@RhombusProductions]

Maybe stop voting for retarded liberal leaders who use backwards logic? Who in their right mind even thinks that decriminalization leads to less drug use????

[@thenorthowl2033]

ACAB hat on. She voted for it.

[@sageoldmann5157]

Unfortunately, addiction is a choice. If these people don’t wanna help themselves, no one can help them. -An ex addict

[@Bokuzen035]

Most likely no one has failed them besides their selves. Everything they need to quit and fix their lives is already available. It's a choice to live like this

[@jacobgaunt5838]

@@sageoldmann5157 you clearly know very little about addiction or haven’t seen nor witnessed these situations first hand , I’m sure you think you have though .

[@janielunday5012]

In 2005, I stayed in DTES while on vacation. I stayed at a hotel just up the block from the Carnegie Community Centre. The homeless and drug addicts were only on Hastings. At night, I would walk anywhere and not see anyone except for people walking from their car to a door. Now, the place is an open air insane asylum. Glad I was able to experience the city safely then.

[@ContagionV]

Lived in the lower mainland all my life, and while E Hastings has always been that way to some extent, watching these people, many of which have mental health issues, continue to be enabled so they can keep destroying their lives instead of getting any meaningful help is extremely sad. Nice to see some honest coverage of one of our biggest issues that seems to get swept under the rug constantly like its the status quo.

[@TyreaLSC]

its the hardest to own a home in any province after the last 9 years

[@brimzs]

Enabling is not treatment . This level of enabling kills people .

[@edevane-valencia-productions]

Agreed! Finally some logic in the comments. Have a blessed day.

[@ibezzant]

Correct. These arguments of human rights and compassion are nonsense.

[@cotton_hill]

I'm a recovering addict and I think you're right. There's a fine line between enabling and being real help. Typically, if the addict wants the proposed thing, it's not good for them😂

[@draculinalilith396]

yes but in canada they offer euthenazia to young people who are depressed.

[@maskwew]

toxic drugs kill people. dirty needles spread disease and kill people. exposure kills people. gang violence kills people. safe supply and health care do not kill people

[@FrenzyPopcorn]

I'm born and raised in Vancouver. Thank you for humanizing the DTES and I wish we could do more to help people there.

[@MsAjajade]

This documentary was done very respectfully and gets right to the point of what the problems are of the people of the DTES / East Hastings .

[@PhilomenaMerritt-e5e]

I can't believe how awesome this turned out!

[@bishopguy9090]

legend 🙏🏼

[@BrandonBuckingham]

thank you so much for watching

[@bishopguy9090]

@@BrandonBuckingham every video 🙏🏼 favorite YT by far , so fresh seeing the real side of people and honest journalism my man , God bless you and the work you’re doing !! if you’re ever in SA TX i’d love to meet you dawg , maybe help make content !! again God bless you and what you’re doing Brandon 🙏🏼🔥

[@Cornerkid82]

@@BrandonBuckingham you should do Sherbourne/Dundas area in Toronto. And Main street around North end in Winnipeg, it is the deadliest area in Canada in terms of M rate

[@n0n9001]

Thanks Brandon. I’m seeing things like this in Vermont, yes tranq. It’s getting crazy.

[@BrandonBuckingham]

i need to visit vermont

[@ValerieSolanas420]

I'm an ex- addict and I've been homeless, luckily i was clean when i was homeless. Thank you Brandon for humanizing addicts and the homeless. Sometimes life just gets you down. It's true that drugs are more often than not self medication. I wasnt diagnosed with adhd until my mid 20s and i used a variety of downers to help calm the hyperactivity and be less depressed about my lack of motivation, feeling like i was lazy when i didn't get stuff done.

[@MckenzieRosengarten2006]

im born and raised in vancouver. the downtown east side is terrifying but also insanely sad. driving down this part of town is always scary because i feel like every time i see it, theres more & more homeless people - im 18 years old and the first time i saw a dead person in the downtown east side, i was 13 years old. it was disturbing to say the least, but now its pretty much a normal occurrence. thank you for treating these people with empathy and respect, they didnt see their lives turning out this way and i promise you that.

[@aidanbrown426]

been watching since 30k bro, youre doing good things for yourself n its good to see u healthy

[@jdubs7756]

Glad your back to regular uploads!

[@BrandonBuckingham]

Me too! more to come!

[@markbach2085]

Whaaaat I wish you were in town!!

[@BrandonBuckingham]

i was there back in august!

[@markbach2085]

Vancouver is my home but god damn is it brutal now a days with the drugs and homeless. Thanks for covering this dude!! You a real one. Cold ahh riding

[@markbach2085]

@@BrandonBuckinghamdamn dude! Anytime you ever want to come back hit me up if you remember I can house you and feed you if you need brother!

[@_chris_brian]

I used to go to east Hastings to buy bootleg cigarettes and beer, had a few friends that lived down there too. There’s so much sadness but when you meet these people and talk to them they are some of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, they just lost their battle with their sorrow.

[@jaksunsandberg4735]

I grew up on abbot and Cordova. Just a few blocks from here. My grandpa lives on Hastings and main in an apartment (not an addict) but definitely an interesting and character building childhood. Gives you insight on how crazy shit can really get. Most of these people are very nice people but have unfortunately gotten sucked into that world. Unfortunate and complicated situation. Thanks for documenting this Brandon ! Fuckin awesome work.

[@alpacaman6256]

Brandon - you've had a wild ride on KZbin. From the DM drama / him acting like a little girl, to you having fun and going slightly mad in Thailand... To now - sharing the real world with us, talking to the real victims in the proper way (not condescending etc.) You are the man. Stay strong, I'm sure that was taxing to film.

[@Jabgash]

As someone who works at Insite, it's really encouraging to see someone just giving a platform to community members to speak their minds. Thanks a lot, Brandon. Much respect, dude.

[@Swa6Eyes]

Thanks for covering this Brandon, was born and raise in B.C. and have been dismayed by how stupid our government has been in attempt to "solve" the drug problem we have.

[@canadiantraveller281]

In Halifax last year, there were 30 plus tents set up in the park downtown. They had enough room for everyone in the shelter and only 3 people took them up on it.

[@whoszaq4148]

goddamn Buckingham you're almost to a million subs that growth was so quick. hell yeah well deserved!

[@CrPio167]

Guy prolapsed his ass deadlifting 600 lbs more than the world record. What a champion!

[@leatherlacelunacy1179]

lol seriously - i believe his injury but theres no way he lifted 1700lbs. another loss to ego lifting.

[@martinemjt]

giving "clean drugs" to an addict is like giving 5% alcohol to an alcoholic .

[@RiiLove]

Thanks for showing my city kindness

[@foxyfox3971]

I live 2 blocks from hastings, & a few blocks from Oppenheimer, i lost my young daughter to an od ive seen horrible shit almost on the daily, it gets depressing, friends go through shit

[@ToxicYungBoyTv]

Thought I was trippin off the fetty when I saw you across the street in my ends. Big ups brotha thanks for shining light on this issue!

[@BrandonBuckingham]

ay if u ever see me again come say whats up

[@ToxicYungBoyTv]

@@BrandonBuckingham Will do you a real one man hopefully cross paths in the future. Appreciate you and the raw & real journalism you bring us keep it up🫡💯

[@COPSTOPPER-m2n]

Bro who cares about a guy on youtube think of your words you just wrote seriously only you can change... kinda sad you'd even write that

[@JepeFni]

@@COPSTOPPER-m2npretty sure it was a joke pertaining to the subject of the video buddy.

[@davejones8462]

@@COPSTOPPER-m2n1. Why are you on his channel if you don’t care 2. You’re a bitch lol

[@RileyTelfer]

This and the Lebanon video were top tier.

[@BrandonBuckingham]

and both have about 20% of my normal viewership. KZbin is so weird

[@RileyTelfer]

@@BrandonBuckingham Censorship on KZbin is so prevalent when it comes to hard issues and real conversations (regardless of political views / opinions). Yet, somehow they let the creepiest, uneducated and misleading shit slide. You just gained a patron subscriber respect Brandon, keep up the excellent journalism. #mayonaise

[@firemeltedstorm3368]

@@BrandonBuckingham brother these are the reason we support your Patreon. You are making videos that matter not some cheap KZbin drama to get a check

[@unanielson8837]

“Safe supply” and all other buzz words are used by activists and NGOs to keep this business of drug addiction going. If this was not generating lots of money for non-profits, societies and all other support systems, this horror on the streets would disappear!

[@mesohigh11]

Bro I just found your page and binging. Later found out that we live in the same county. You are seriously 1 cool ass rider. It’s been hard to find like minded homies here for me.

[@jaymanrls]

I think it’s great to see the reaction of people on the street to getting asked to give their piece of mind; these videos showing the effects of drugs on people and homelessness on the streets have similarities; it’s kinda like seen one, seen em all, it’s good to see you out there lifting people’s spirits tho

[@jaymanrls]

I cant even fathom what solutions these people need

[@gnarcky6ix6]

I just visited vancouver this past weekend and drove down hastings today. Always depressing seeing the state of things there

[@WarlordRising]

Vancouver out here giving Skid Row and Kensington a run for its money. It's definitely a mixture of bad timing and bad luck. Skyrocketing rent prices. Bad year at work (pink slip). Unemployment benefits run dry. Hard time finding a new job. Oh, look, a way to escape. I'm not condoning it. I'm just saying people have their reasons, and it varies depending on mental health.

[@SmokeDoggg91]

Best video you've put out in awhile bro 💯

[@BrandonBuckingham]

Appreciate that brother. unfortunately it is performing very bad viewership wise

[@SmokeDoggg91]

@BrandonBuckingham Don't let it get you down bro,your a great Internet personality 👌

[@bananaoverlord21]

@@BrandonBuckinghamI got halfway through and then had to do something then when I went to watch the rest it was almost impossible to find! What’s happening with KZbin?

[@GAMERGUY2686]

Moms a case manager for mental health in Vancouver. I live in Calgary now but hearing the stories is so heartbreaking.

[@davidalexa2254]

Dude thanks so much for covering the issues in the DTES. Whenever I drive through, it seems to be worse and worse.

[@RavenThePlayer]

Living in Van this is a daily issue. It's like a living hell. It's harm production, not harm reduction.

[@dead_girl777]

the purpose of harm reduction is to prevent the rising amounts of overdose in recent years, not to encourage more drug use. studies and statistics have shown that overdoses have decreased in the past few years the more that safe supply and harm reduction were implemented. the philosophy is that addicts will use whether they have access to drugs or not and they will always find a way to use no matter if that supply is laced or unclean so to reduce the amount of deaths we must promote safe supply.

[@richofffitpics]

Anyone else notice the lack of accountability like nothing is ever THEIR fault in THEIR situation

[@mushypork2132]

Yep, and everyone owes them something, like how fucked up is that a person working full time and contributing to the society might not have enough to even rent a place while those junkies requesting free housing and free drugs on the taxpayers bill.

[@gboratto2739]

I do appreciate how you showed us a deeper look into my provinces ghetto essentially. Also greetings from BC

[@BrandonBuckingham]

greetings my friend

[@gboratto2739]

@BrandonBuckingham if you wanna do another Vancouver video I suggest doing one on Chinatown it's basically another drug den and tent city

[@cleigh3796]

@@gboratto2739 Chinatown borders the DTES on 1 or 2 sides. The delineation isn't clear because of the SROs in Chinatown that house people who hang out in the DTES, and because you'll find people using in doorways in Chinatown as well as Gastown, and downtown. And I don't think Chinatown has very many tents at all, I'd be surprised if there are any. You will find people sleeping in doorways at night though with sleeping bags and improvised cardboard structures. A Chinatown video would just go over what he said here. mentioning Chinatown (and downtown and gastown) would be useful as a side note on this video, because of how the DTES activities spill over into those neighborhoods. Chinatown hasn't been popping for years, not just because of the DTES.

[@trevorwhatever2050]

"What happened to your hand?" "I was poisoned..." What she actually means is she poisoned herself but can't even admit it.

[@4850m-ve4qj]

And lying about not being allowed to go to the hospital. Complete BS.

[@annagarcia2493]

@@4850m-ve4qjas a nurse it’s horrifying treating these self inflicted wounds. I can barely keep it together and want to throw up and cry.

[@RyanVentura604]

This was one of the best modern videos on the Downtown East Side. Respect!

[@juliusdasilva7593]

Great to finally see Vancouver in this style of video. We’ve had major drug and homeless problems since I was a kid but we get way way less coverage despite how bad it can get out here.

[@dubdubberson]

When you asked why they came down there, they all act like they went for moral reasons, then slipped and fell on a needle.

[@dead_girl777]

there's no need to judge how someone ends up on the streets because it can happen to anyone, even you. maybe you're down on your luck one day and one wrong step or one missed payment of rent, and it can all go downhill. there's also no reason to judge how one ended up as an addict because, likewise, it can happen to you too. addiction is a disease, and it's contagious. addiction is a byproduct of trauma, and it goes hand in hand with mental illness. there's not one person down on east hastings that has no mental illness or at least some form of trauma in their lives and the only way they know how to cope at this point in life is to use and there's no reason to judge them for that. I think you'll find that if you show more love and understanding, your life will be much happier.

[@Rabbitbanana09]

Sometimes it’s generational, sometimes it’s a bad pathway down. These people have family and friends, please sonder or understand empathy.

[@Jake-bt3fc]

"It doesn't end just because you have 4 walls and a roof over your head. There are other factors at play" Exactly. Give a homeless person a house and in a year it'll be condemned and unlivable.

[@kltil5082]

That's what we did and they ripped the wires out of the walls and basically gutted the places for drug money. I'd say they took everything but the kitchen sink but they literally took those too

[@duke_dawae]

I was born in Vancouver in 1999. My dad was an addict and lives in a SRO in New West apparently one year clean after approximately 20-30 years of addiction. It's heartbreaking to see the lack of support the people in need get. Our home has become unlivable to those who want a humble existence. Materialistic and high income business people are the only ones who feel welcome here. The working class are faced with no light at the end of the tunnel, and the homeless are obviously not cared for.

[@dissraps]

Lack of support LOL there's MILLIONS of government dollars funneled every SINGLE day into the downtown eastside (feel free to google the actual statistics to back it up). It's literally THE most funded place in the entirety of canada they've wasted HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS

[@PinkTubeSox]

Missed ya Buck! Glad to see ya back

[@nevaehwilson8367]

I’m a teenager who lives decently close to East Hastings, and throughout the years of growing up here in Vancouver, The downtown east side has definitely become a lot worse. It is so sad to see considering the Government doesn’t do anything to solve this issue in our city. I’ve lost family to the drug addiction on Hastings street, this needs to be fixed before I have kids.

[@MamaTrauma]

Through a blue lense, a 2003 documentary, covered this area and nothing much has really changed only evolved into a greater epidemic over 21 years.

[@stuckinarabbithole]

Saw this briefly on Vancouver's sub reddit before the mods took it down. Vancouver will do almost anything to hide this problem from outside eyes.

[@kltil5082]

Or it's just already talked about to death and not relevant to what the mods are trying to do with the sub. This isn't some new or interesting topic for anyone who lives here

[@stuckinarabbithole]

@@kltil5082 That's strange because a vast majority of the people there and in the surrounding region seem to think that if these extremely traumatized people would just "get a job" or that if they were providing housing alone would entirely fix the situation. This is an insightful look in to how there is no simple route out of this situation for those that are in it. People seem incredibly ignorant of the realities of the people who actually go through this experience. I think many would find this eye opening when confronted with their predisposed notions of how to fix the downtown east side.

[@Curt-iy7ck]

I worked for one of these safe supply places. They're getting government funding. If the issue goes away so does the job where they hand out needles to drug addicts, they dont want that.

[@kltil5082]

The whole reason those jobs were created in the first place was because there was a problem. Not sure why you're acting like this is some conspiracy to keep people on drugs. They're doing drugs because they want to and do whether there are safe supplies or not.

[@cotton_hill]

It's not a conspiracy to assume people dont want to lose their jobs😂 ​@@kltil5082

@kltil5082 The problem that they made 10 times worse? You do know things that involve money can turn into a racket? Doesn’t need a conspiracy.

[@Cooe.]

​@@kltil5082You are absolutely clueless. 🤦😑 As a recovering hard drug addict, these "harm reduction" services simply entrench addiction long-term and make being an addict more comfortable. They do absolutely NOTHING to actually solve the root problems! Think of how many buprenorphine (Suboxone) prescriptions you could pay for with this level of government funding? That would ACTUALLY get people off drugs! "Harm reduction" is nothing but a massive scam meant to suck up as much government funding as possible instead of actually helping people get & stay clean. 🤷

[@notsuprisedmfers8630]

He didn't say there was a conspiracy to keep people on drugs, he obviously stated the blatant fact that if they were actually helping people, the money would disappear, which is why they have no incentive to help anyone

[@monkeyfloatsupreme5586]

Grew up in metro Vancouver and have been watching your vids for about 2 years now. Thank you for showing awareness to our beautiful province that is in crisis

[@travongilmore4130]

The intro is wildddd