Advocates give out drugs, push for better safe supply after B.C. breaks overdose record

published on February 9, 2022 by Angela Jung in CTV News Vancouver

In a moment of silence and remembrance, a few dozen people shouted out the names of friends and loved ones who died last year due to a drug overdose.

As they honoured those they have lost, drug user advocates also took the opportunity to hand out 0.1-gram doses of cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine, providing a glimpse of what a so-called compassion club would look like.

“We know that the problem is not substance use itself or addiction. The problem is that we have a poisoned drug supply where people don’t know what they’re using,” said Jeremy Kalicum with Drug User Liberation Front.

DULF, along with the BC Association of People on Opiate Maintenance, used donations to purchase roughly $1,000 worth of drugs over the dark web, then tested them and handed them out at the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users in the Downtown Eastside…