December 9, 2021
DULF and VANDU Safe Supply Demonstration in Response to Staggering Overdose Numbers
Vancouver, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations – In response to the BC Coroners Office’s latest report on the alarming increase of drug toxicity deaths across the province, the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) are distributing a limited supply of clean and tested heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine at VANDU’s weekly peer member group today at 5pm. DULF and VANDU are undertaking this illegal public safety action to demonstrate that community-controlled safe supply is the only rational solution to the drug poisoning crisis.
This morning, the BC Coroners Office reported 201 drug toxicity deaths across BC in October 2021 alone, and 1,782 between January and October 2021, the highest numbers ever recorded in a calendar year. This alarming statistic confirms that all levels of government have failed in their slow and ineffective response to the drug poisoning crisis.
Throughout 2021, DULF and VANDU have illegally distributed clean and tested drugs to users in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to demonstrate the necessity of community-controlled safe supply. As part of their last and largest drug distribution action on August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day, DULF and VANDU submitted a Section 56 exemption request to Health Canada to operate a community-based heroin compassion club. Three months later, Health Canada has still not responded to the request.
“The negligence of government in responding to DULF and VANDU’s Section 56 Exemption Request in tantamount to murder. We cannot stand idly by while more of our people die, and have taken matters into our own hands to keep our community safe. We need to stop ceasely incarcerating people and scale up demedicalized safe supply immediately.” – Eris Nyx, DULF
About Drug Users Liberation Front
Formed in response to the ever-mounting overdose deaths in British Columbia and across Canada, the Drug User Liberation Front looks to provide tangible solutions to this devastating crisis. We are an organized collective of people who use drugs empowered to make change through direct action, courage and conviction, and fueled by the memories of the countless friends, families, and loved ones whose lives have been taken by an unjust, broken system of laws and policies. https://www.dulf.ca/
About the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) was formed in 1998 to bring together groups of people who use drugs. VANDU is committed to increasing the capacity of people who use illicit drugs to live healthy and productive lives. We do this by affirming and strengthening people who use illicit drugs to reduce harms both to themselves and their communities.