The War Over Safe Drug Supply in Vancouver - Macleans.ca
๐ Abstract
The article discusses the efforts of Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum, two harm reduction advocates in Vancouver, Canada, to provide a safe supply of drugs to high-risk users in response to the ongoing opioid overdose crisis. It explores their creation of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) and their attempts to obtain a legal exemption to distribute tested, untainted drugs. The article also examines the broader context of the harm reduction movement in Canada, the political and public backlash against it, and the legal challenges faced by Nyx and Kalicum.
๐ Q&A
[01] Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum's Efforts
1. What were the key goals and strategies of Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum's harm reduction efforts?
- They founded the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) with the goal of providing a safe supply of drugs to high-risk users, including by purchasing drugs from the dark web, testing them for purity, and distributing them to approved members.
- They applied for a section 56 exemption from Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to legally operate a "compassion club" that would distribute the tested drugs.
- When their application was rejected, they planned to proceed with the compassion club model without government approval, anticipating potential legal challenges.
2. What were the key findings from the research study conducted on DULF's members?
- The preliminary results showed that DULF members reported significantly fewer overdoses, hospitalizations, police interactions, and instances of drug-related violence compared to a control group.
- No DULF members had died or overdosed while using the drugs obtained through the program.
3. How did the political and public perception of DULF's efforts shift over time?
- Initially, DULF received support from some local politicians and organizations like Vancouver Coastal Health.
- However, as public sentiment turned more skeptical of harm reduction approaches, particularly after the release of critical media coverage, the political support for DULF eroded.
- The provincial government ultimately cancelled the funding from Vancouver Coastal Health, and Nyx and Kalicum were later arrested and charged with drug trafficking.
[02] The Broader Context of Harm Reduction in Canada
1. How has the harm reduction movement evolved in Canada, particularly in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver?
- Harm reduction approaches, such as needle exchange programs and supervised injection sites, first gained a foothold in the Downtown Eastside in the 1980s and 1990s.
- The establishment of Insite, Canada's first legal supervised injection site, in 2003 was a landmark achievement for the harm reduction movement.
- Over time, the harm reduction approach gained more widespread acceptance, with the number of supervised consumption sites in Canada growing to 39 by 2017.
2. How has the political and public perception of harm reduction shifted in recent years?
- While harm reduction efforts were making progress, the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing toxicity of the drug supply led to a rise in overdose deaths, eroding some of the public support for harm reduction.
- Provinces like Alberta and Ontario have moved away from harm reduction approaches, favoring a recovery-first model, and have faced criticism from harm reduction advocates.
- The growing political and public backlash against harm reduction has made it increasingly difficult to have nuanced conversations about the best ways to address the opioid crisis.
3. How have the legal challenges faced by DULF and other harm reduction efforts unfolded?
- DULF has challenged Health Canada's rejection of their application for a legal exemption, arguing that it violated the Charter rights of drug users.
- The judicial review hearing on DULF's case suggested that the court may find that Health Canada did not adequately consider the evidence and Charter rights in its decision.
- However, even if DULF prevails in court, it is unlikely to result in a full exemption, and the legal battles are expected to continue for years.