UNDUN
Unified Networkers of Drug Users Nationally
What We're Doing
Awareness and Education Events
Two years ago, the Canadian Drug Policy Consortium was founded by a meeting of some 30 academics and activists (Brent attended) who are seeking to create a public voice for drug policy alternatives and dialogue in Canada. Since that founding meeting, the CDCP has sought funding sources to begin its work to inform the public, and enter into public debate, producing a brief introductory Summary broadsheet.
Since the initial start-up meeting 2 years ago, CDPC has secured some funding such that it is now at the point of establishing a formal steering committee to chart and guide the group's development over the next two years. Brent has been asked to serve on this steering committee.
There is going to be a Celebratory Reception in light of this important milestone in contributing to a healthier and safer Canada and world. The Reception will be on Tuesday, March 8 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the Novotel Hotel in downtown Ottawa. Come and meet some of the people and organizations involved, lift a glass and share a bite to eat, and hear a little bit about what CDPC hopes to achieve. Read more here
February 22, 2011 : Status Report on People Who Use Drugs Expert Working Group Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario
UNDUN was invited to participate in a one day meeting of the Population-Specific HIV/AIDS and HCV Status Report on People Who Use Drugs Expert Working Group. This meeting is organized by the HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide feedback and advice on the efforts of the Public Health Agency to create a comprehensive report about substance users in Canada and their health risks with regard to substance use. In essence, the Public Health Agency wants to some users look at their research and say whether they think its on track in terms of the categories of information they are collecting and whether their are gaps in the overall picture they are considering.
It is uncertain, at this time, whether this "user review" will be a one-time thing, only to do with this one particular piece of research, or whether it will become an ongoing way in which people who use drugs can have some voice and input in to the work the Public Health Agency of Canada undertakes when it is specifically in relation to our population.
Fall 2010 - Summer 2011 : Toronto Housing Drug Users Union, Toronto, Ontario
UNDUN applied for a small project grant to undertake drug user organizing within Toronto Community Housing, the second largest provider of social housing in North America. We were awarded a $10,000 fund to coordinate and facilitate a number of meetings with tenants over the course of nine months.
Our focus is to assist people who use drugs and live in Toronto Community Housing to organize themselves and develop a representational voice in order to bring their concerns and needs to the providers of their housing. As well, to be aware of their role as community members in a large, forced community of impoverished people, and to consider how they might become more sensitve as neighbours within the larger tenant community.
On February 15, 2011 all tenants of the Dan Harrison Complex were invited to view the FIX! film. This showing was intended to introduce the "users union" project to all tenants and to air any community concerns. Subsequent meetings are for people who self-identity as people who use substances and live in Toronto Community Housing, rather than any tenant per se.
September 24, 2010 : Drug Users Advocacy Forum, Ottawa, Ontario
UNDUN members took part in a Forum entitled "Making Our Voices Heard" (see poster. Organized by OASIS Drop-In of the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and DUAL, the Drug Users Advocacy League, the recently formed users group in Ottawa.
About 40 people participated in the two and a half hour forum, which consisted of short opening presentations by the panelists and then a lively question and answer period which followed. People were still wanting to engage in further dialogue when the meeting had to be shut down because people had other committments.
Panels were: Sean LeBlanc, DUAL Deb Breau & Brent Taylor, UNDUN Tara Lyons, CCSDP Eugene Oscapella, CFDP
Forum Photos by Enrico Baliello
June 12/13, 2010 : Canadian Association of People Who Use(d) Drugs, Toronto, Ontario
Four long years since Canadian drug user activists participated in a Summit Meeting in Vancouver to discuss the formation of a national network or association of people who use(d) drugs, a dozen activists came together in Toronto to renew the push for national organization and representation. Much appreciation goes to the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network for their ongoing support for this initiative.
Cape Breton, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. were represented at this meeting, with several of the participants having also attended the initial discussion meeting in 2006. Old and new faces, all sharing a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for moving forward with the establishment of a Canadian Association of People Who Use(d) Drugs.
One exciting development was the participation of ADDICQ, the Association for Defending Rights and Inclusion of people who use drugs in Quebec. ADDICQ was formed in 2007 and it organizes in support of all people using drugs in Quebec (including pot, speed, lsd, ecstasy or whatever). ADDICQ brought copies of a journal (that it closely collaborates with) called l'Injecteur, which is directed toward current injection drug users and crack inhalers (which they intend to have some English-language articles as well).
Toronto, June 2010 - association's name, in official languages
Donald informed the meeting of the recent founding of the Canadian Drug Policy Consortium which seeks to engage Canadian civil society in re-visiting Canada's current drug policy in light of progressive endeavours by many allie nations worldwide. He expressed the Consortium's fundamental awareness of the importance of having people who use drugs being wholly involved in the Consortium in a meaningful way. And in fact, people who use drugs did attend early Consortium planning meetings in Vancouver last year. Donald relayed his wish that both the Consortium and the Association of People Who Use Drugs will be stong allies working in solidarity on many issues in Canada in the coming years.
The Canadian Drug User Advisory Group (who organized the initial Candian Drug User Summit in 2006) was awarded the 2006 Rolleston Award. As of yet the $5000 prize in unused. It was decided that now we are at the point where we will be able to make use of those funds to directly develop and legally register the Canadian Association of People Who Use(d) Drugs. We will be seeking the release of those funds as soon as possible.
Ann Livingston, a founder and current volunteer with VANDU, helped to animate the discussions in Toronto. Lorna Bird, member of Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society and VANDU attended, as did two other VANDU members, Hugh Lampkin and Dave Murry (Dave was also representing the B.C. Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors). VANDU members participation was very helpful as they were able to contribute their experiential expertise in organizing. Although that is not to say that expertise was lacking among the other participants. Several participants have been key personal in some of the longest operating and most successful harm reduction projects in the country for people who use(d) drugs, such as Rosemary Fayand from Street Works Edmonton, Darlene Palmer from Cactus Montreal and Christine Porter from Sharp Advice Needle Exchange Sydney, N.S. Alexanra Di Kiewit was the representative from A.D.D.I.C.Q., and Max Rowsell, a street youth who has been involved in a lot of harm reduction work in Ottawa aslo attended.
UNDUN members Deb Breau and Brent Taylor attended the meeting and look forward to participating in future work with CAPUD.
CAPUD has agreed upon a Statment of Unity document.
STATEMENT OF UNITY
- We are an Association of People Who Use Illegal Drugs.
- We strive for social justice and advocate for human rights for People who Use Drugs.
- We work to eliminate the discrimination, criminalization, stigmatization and isolation of People who Use Drugs in all areas of our social, economic and political lives.
- We are against the prohibition of drugs and are for the regulation of currently illegal drugs.
- "Our Lives, Our Voice, Our Way" : As People who UseD Drugs, we must have real representation and power within those institutions that have a significant impact on our lives.
- We recognize that various groups are differently affected by the harms associated with the use of drugs, and they may need to organize autonomously as well as part of a larger group. We support the self-directed empowerment of People who Use Drugs and are committed to the diversity and autonomy of our members.
CAPUD has begun a website.
More information will be available as soon as meeting report is produced.
Toronto, June 2010 - discussing the purpose of a national association
Spring, 2010 : Drug User Advocacy Group Meeting, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Monthly meetings at the Oasis Centre continued throughout the Spring with people who use(d) drugs in Ottawa. Participants from Ottawa expressing their interest and recognition of the value of their organizing a group that can represent the interests of people who are currently using drugs in their community.
Group discussions focussing on the history and contemporary situation of organizing among people who use drugs and the issues which are of primary concern to people in Ottawa presently. Housing, red zoning, violence and private security guards, methadone, medical problems with injection of some pharmaceuticals where just some of the issues identified by participants.
Meetings will be continuing at the Oasis Centre, as well as invitations to hold discussions at other community public health centres.
February 11, 2010 : Drug User Advocacy Group Meeting, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
UNDUN spoke with to a group of about 20 individuals doing a learning series on advocacy with the Oasis Program of the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre in Ottawa. Many of the participants were active or former street drug users from the downtown and Sandy Hill neighbourhood of Ottawa.
This initial session consisted of two hours of dialogue and discussion during which UNDUN presented many examples of drug users advocacy, such as the examples of VANDU in Canada or various European-located drug users organizations. Such examples were presented not as models for advocacy projects in Ottawa, but rather as inspiration about what drug users are accomplishing in terms of advocacy when they have been able to organize themselves into conscious groups.
UNDUN has been invited to lead similar group discussions on a monthly basis with participants from the Oasis Program as many people indicated an interest in further discussing the potential for organizing user advocacy in Ottawa.
June 12-14, 2009 : Pacific Summit on Drug User Health, Vancouver, B.C.
<--- click to view larger imageThe Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) is organizing the initial Pacific Summit on Drug User Health to bring together user activists from British Columbia and the Yukon to discus the formation of a regional network of drug user groups. The larger urban user groups in Vancouver and Victoria have developed a fairly well-known public profile, however user activism is not restricted to just the urban centers. In smaller communities throughout B.C. and the Yukon small groups or individual activists are struggling to organize and represent users' interests in their locales. This summit will enable user activists to come together and exchange their experiences in a process of mutual self-education and collective support. UNDUN has been invited to participate and share their experiences of working in smaller cities and rural areas of eastern Ontario.
The BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors was founded at the Summit by a overwhelming positive vote of participants. See Constitution preamble here
VANDU presented an excellent report at the Summit on the Health Status of People Who Use Illicit Drugs in British Columbia. View a slideshow of the report here
To read a short personal review of the Pacific Summit on Drug User Health, please click here. If you'd like to download the review, click here. For a .pdf version, click here
Spring Issue, 2009 : Metaphore Magazine, Montreal, Quebec
UNDUN provided two articles for the Spring Issue of Metaphone, a quarterly magazine published by Metadame, a Quebec-based methadone treatment organization. See reprint of artice entitled Maximize positive methadone maintenance outcomes here
May 28-29, 2009 : Canadian Drug Policy Consortium Think Tank, Vancouver, B.C.
UNDUN is participating in the first get together of members of the Canadian Drug Policy Consortium to discuss future direction and strategy regarding national efforts towards a more sane drug policy for Canada. The Canadian Drug Policy Consortium has been having regular teleconferences over the past eight months and has finally secured funding to meet face to face. The Consortium consists of members throughout Canada who have actively worked on drug policy issues and who recognize the necessity to collectively direct our efforts to affect greater influence upon policy makers and civil society as we attempt to open up dialogue toward progressive re-evaluation of Canadian drug policy.
April 24, 2009 : Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Public Health Unit, Belleville, Ontario
UNDUN made a one hour presentation to the monthly staff meeting about health professionals working with drug users. Provided our opinions, analysis, suggestions, and experiences gleaned from our interactions with the health care system. Lots of questions and lively discussion followed.
March 25/26, 2009 : Addressing Enforcement Issues Workshop, Ottawa, Ontario
UNDUN has been invited to participate in a workshop to identify ways in which law enforcement can work better to better address issues that relate to populations that use substances. This workshop is being organized by the Drug Absue Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Public Safety Canada, and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. There will be 45 representatives from diverse populations (UNDUN and VANDU are representing users) to focus on "how to identify and present best practices relating to policing people who use and abuse drugs".
February 28, 2009 : Drug Users Hep C Support Group, Belleville, Ontario
Third session of Hep C related discussion groups is well underway. At least 10 pariticipants are taking part in each session. Members are expressing their wish for a users support group to continue in an ongoing, regular manner since they say they really value having a group to express themselves in. Overall this series of discussion groups has been very successful and UNDUN has really appreciated working with the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Public Health Unit.
December 16, 2008 : Drug Users Hep C Support Group, Belleville, Ontario
The 2nd series of health related workshops /discussion groups for injection users and crack smokers in the Belleville area has completed. Participants really value the couple hours each week when they get together to talk and ask questions in a non-threatening supportive atmosphere. Everyone in the group is really positive about sharing and listening to one another. Participants particularly enjoyed viewing two recent documentaries from Vancouver, Fix! and Bevel Up! There is the 3rd series of another 4 weeks of discussions to take place in January 2009. Participants often express their hope that weekly meetings can become an ongoing thing in the Belleville area, possibly under the aupices of UNDUN and the new community health centre which is to open in the area before too long.
<--- Click to view larger images ---> 
There is the 3rd series of another 4 weeks of discussions to take place in January 2009. Participants often express their hope that weekly meetings can become an ongoing thing in the Belleville area, possibly under the aupices of UNDUN with sponsorship from the area's community health centre which is to open before too long.
November 12, 2008 : Presentation to 1st year social work students, St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
Two hour lively question and answer session with approximately 50 1st year social work students.
Fall 2008 / Winter 2009 : Health Issues for Drug Users Weekly Educational - Discussion Groups, Bellevile, Ontario
UNDUN will be organizing a series of three discussion groups for drug users in the Belleville area over the Fall and Winter 2009. With funding from Ontario Health and support from the Health Unit in Belleville, three four-week long discussion groups will cover a range of issues affecting and threatening the health of street drug users - injectors and smokers.
<--- click to enlargeUNDUN will guide discussions that cover several topics, including proper use of materials provided by the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program, such as cookers, sterile water, swabbing, using Vitimim C. an mouth pieces for crack stems. Group members will be encouraged to identity other issues that they wish to discuss and educate themselves on.
UPDATE Limited funding was secured to enable group participants to receive $10 for each session. The first series of four meetings took place in October 2008 with a dozen people attending each group. Unfortunately there was only funding to pay 10 people the $10 stipend each session. People attending the second series of discussion groups who took part in the first series have indicated their wish to still attend the second session, yet forgo their stipend so that other interested members can attend and receive the $10. This shows both good interest in attending the discussions, and a strong sense of solidarity among group members to share the limited resources available.
October 31 to November 3, 2008: INPUD General Assembly / International Drug Users Day, Copenhagen, Denmark
UNDUN member Brent Taylor is on the Board of the International Network of People Using Drugs (INPUD) and will be attending the network's General Assembly meeting. The International Harm Reduction Association IHRA is covering airfare for INPUD Board members. Supplimenting funds for accomodation and incidentals is being raised through the generous support of allied agencies in Canada. UNDUN member Deb Breau will also be attending; this will be her forth attendence at an assembly of international users activists.
August 12/13, 2008 : What Women and Men who Smoke Crack Have to Say about HIV and HCV Prevention, Ottawa, Ontario
The HIV Prevention Research Team at the University of Ottawa is doing a study on What Women and Men who Smoke Crack Have to Say about HIV and HCV Prevention. The research will consist of several components - in-depth personal interviews, guided focus group discussions, and a quantitative questionnaire.
UNDUN is participating as a collaborative partner in this research project. We assisted with several other community people in developing the focus group guided questions, and we will be acting as facilitators for several of the focus group discussions - the older men's focus group, and the older women's focus group. Other focus groups will occur with Aboriginal crack users, Sex Workers and Youth.
June 5, 2008 : Addiction - It's Not Just About Drugs , Harm Reduction Public Forum, Belleville, Ontario
UNDUN is participating as speakers at this public eduction event organized by the Injection Drug Use Harm Reduction Task Force of Hastings-Prince Edward Counties. The keynote speaker will be Diane Riley, of the Canadian Centre on Drug Policy, who is also a member of the Bellevile Harm Reduction Task Force.
May 29-30, 2008 : National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms, Toronto, Ontario
Representing CANDU (Canadian Network of Drug Users) and UNDUN, Deb Breau and Brent Taylor took part in the Second Forum discussions regarding the National Framework. The Forum was attended by roughly 100 people (stateholders) from a broad array of interests regarding the harms associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada.
The First Forum occurred three years ago and set forth 13 key areas of concern for the National Framework. The purpose of the Second Forum was to re-visit the key areas and see whether they are still valid and to encourage further initiatives to happen. Ann Livingstone, VANDU organizer, was in attendence, as was Darlene Palmer from Cactus Montreal - both also members of CANDU. And Bill Nelles, from the soon to be launched National Opiate Treatment Association of Canada, also attended. Together these five represented the user involvement group at the Forum (and improvement from three years ago when only two "user reps" attended).
There was apparent consensus among participants that the principles of "Nothing About Us Without Us" should apply to all future work around the National Framework, however time will tell how honourably such committment to user inclusion is operationalized. The National Framework is not an organization, but rather a way of considering what needs to be happening with drug services overall in Canada, and an effort to ensure progress is being made in all key areas. The principles of the National Framework include that "those most affected are meaninfully involved" so it is beholden on the Secretariat for the Framework Forums to reach out to user representatives and offer them participation in the process. Ongoing partitipation by UNDUN, VANDU and CANDU will work to ensure that more user representation exists in future work on the National Framework.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) acts as the Secretariat for the National Framework discussions.
May 11-15, 2008 : 19th International Harm Reduction Conference, Barcelona, Spain
Virtually at the last minute, Deb Breau and Brent Taylor, UNDUN coordinators, received a generous grant from the Ontario Hepatitis C Secretariat which enabled us to attend this year's International Conference. We also we given a few more generous donations from individuals, and from the Injection Drug Use Harm Reduction Task Force in Bellevile, ON.
We will be attending the 3rd International Drug Users Congress which is organized by the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD).
We will be keeping a blog of our trip to Barcelona and our impressions of the conference in a blog hosted with Xanga.
March 2,3 and 4, 2008 : Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program Annunal Conference, Ottawa, Ontario
UNDUN coordinator, Brent Taylor, participated in a panel presentation on "Organizing Drug User Groups". Also on the panel were Raffi Balian, coordinator of CounterFit Needle Exchange at South Riverdale Community Health Centre in Toronto, Paul Lavaigne, director of The Site Needle Exchange in Ottawa, and Jen, patient peer volunteer with methadone program at Street Health Centre in Kingston. The panel was moderated by Walter Cavaleri from the Canadian Harm Reduction Network.
CounterFit is one of the most innovative, consumer-involved needle exchanges in Toronto, Ottawa's The Site program is one of the earliest city run needle exchanges in the country, and the Street Health Centre in Kingston is a model for comprehensive street-based health delivery, involving medical staff (doctors, nurses, psychologists), peer groups, a methadone program, and the city's needle exchange.
The "Organizing Drug User Groups" workshop was attended by approx. 25 people and evolved into a very lively discussion about the role and value of autonomous, user-griven groups, as constrasted to peer programs associated with agencies. While recognizing usefulness which agency's peer programs have played, the workshop emphasized a fundamental, distinct difference between agency's peer projects and drug user groups, which are user-managed, user-driven unique organizations in and of themselves. Many participants in the workshop wanted to continue exploring the role and possibilities for drug user groups in Ontario, and greater users participation in the OHRDP's annunal conferences, and decided to keep communicating through an email discussion group.
The Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program (OHRDP) oversees the centralized distribution of harm reduction supplies to all the public health needle exchange programs in the province of Ontario. The 2008 conference was entitled "Doing What Works" and you can view conference highlights here.
One of the conference's keynote speakers was Dr. Gabor Mate, with the Portland Hotel Society in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside community. Dr. Mate's recently published book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, focusses upon his work with homeless, illicit drug using, impoverished people. Senator Larry Campbell, former Mayor of Vancouver and RCMP officer, lead another workshop which explored factors involved in working with police around harm reduction issues. Another conference highlight was the Cultural Fix evening of poetry readings which Brent participated in.
February 4, 2008 : MP Lobbying and Public Forum for a Sensible Drug Policy, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario
UNDUN will be participating in group lobbying of federal MPs throughout the day on February 4 on Parliament Hill. This event is being organized by Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Following the lobbying of MPs, there will be a Public Forum with several panalists urging for the reframing of Canada's Drug Policy as heath focussed, rather than criminal. As stated in outreach bulletin, "Criminalizing drug users doesn’t work. Harm reduction does. Outreach programs, needle exchanges, safer inhalation programs and Vancouver’s supervised injection site are reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS and HCV and increasing the number of people accessing treatment".
October 31, 2007 : Presentation to combined classes of Social Service Workers/Addiction Studies students at St.Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
Very lively 2 hour session with approx. 70 students on harm reduction, ending drug war with regulated drug markets, and community development through drug user groups. Students were very interested and full of questions.
October 25, 2007 : begin Phase 3 of Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program Evaluation Survey
May, 2007 : Completed Phase 2 of Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program Evaluation Survey
UNDUN has been asked by the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Public Health Unit to assist them with the OHRDP Evaluation Survey. Accordingly, we are conducting interviews of 70 injection drug users in the greater Belleville, Ontario area. As well, we are similarly conducting interviews for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit in Smith Falls, Ontario in order that they can complete the survey of injection drug users in their area.
The OHRDP Evaluation Survey is a three phase interview process. Some 38 Public Health Unit's in Ontario are responsible for completing the survey in their catchement areas. Each phase is six months from the previous one, and 70 injection drug users are interviewed in all three phases in all 38 areas. Accordingly, when completed, this survey will provide one of the most comprehensive overviews of the behaviours of injection drug users in Ontario, even though the survey is particularly focussed on users relationship to, and utilization of, the needle exchange programs run by local health units.
We completed Phase 1 interviews in the Belleville area in November, 2006, Phase 2 interviews in May, 2007, and Phase 3 interviews are set to begin in October 2007.
The survey is being overseen by the HIV Prevention Research Team of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
March 19, 2007 : Reflecting and Moving Forward: Next Step in the OHRDP Evaluation, Toronto, Ontario
Paricipated in day-long evaluation and update session for upcoming Phase Two of OHRDP's province-wide survey of paricipant's in needle exchange programs.
March 7, 2007 : Class Presentation at St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
Spoke to combined classes of Addiction Program and Corrections Program students about harm reduction and sensitivity to the realities of people dependent on substances. Fielded lots of questions and had a lively dialogue.
November 28, 2006 : Nothing About Us Without Us, workshop for In the Mind's Eye Substance Use Forum, Waterloo, Ontario
Speaking on issues of meaningfully involving injection drug users in the development and application of community's substance use programs. UNDUN will highlight the history of drug user groups in Canada and the role that groups of persons who use illicit drugs can serve in creating more effective programs to meet the needs of drug users and the community, and the preventions of using-specific health related harms, such as HIV and HepC. Also speaking at the same forum is Richard Pearshouse, Senior Policy Analysist with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network which produced the booklet Nothing About Us Without Us.
September 15, 2006 : Workshop on Specifics of Injecting Drugs and Involving Users, Smith Falls Public Health Unit, Smith Falls, Ontario
UNDUN co-ordinators presented an interactive workshop for Public Health nurses who are working with a recently established needle exchange program of the Leeds Grenville Lanark Health Unit in Eastern Ontario. Approximately 16 nurses asked questions on a broad range of their concerns regarding drug preparations, drug types, and how they might more effectively develop their needle exchange program. UNDUN suggested emphasis be made to involve local users as key outreach and education participants in the program as peer helpers, and that the Health Unit develop a workshop for key user helpers in order that their assistance be more formalized.
August 13-18, 2006 : 16th International AIDS Conference, Toronto, Ontario
UNDUN has received two full scholarships to participate in this major world conference.
June 27/28, 2006 : Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program Evaluation Study, Interviewers Workshop, Toronto, Ontario
The Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program is undertaking an three-phase Evaluation Study to determine the risk behaviours of injection drug users across Ontario and gague their awareness and accessibility to harm reduction programs, particularly needle exchanges. The Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program is setting up a streamlined clearinghouse distribution point for needle exchange programs in the province and the study will present snapshots of users' responses prior to the new distribution program, at six months, and again after a year of it operating.
Over 35 needle exchange programs from across the provinces are taking part in the study which consists of interviewing 70 injection drug users in their regions. UNDUN will be undertaking the interviewing of injection drug users in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties on behalf of the Public Health Unit's needle exchange program in those two counties. The first phase of interviews is in Summer 2006, second in Winter 2007, and the third in Summer 2007.
May 5, 2006 : 1st Canadian Congress of People Who Use Illicit Drugs, Vancouver, B.C.
UNDUN helped to organize this first Congress of Canadian Drug Users. Some 80 user activists from most regions of Canada were invited to participate, as well as a select group of international drug user activists, and representatives of relevant agencies and organizations in Canada. The focus of the day was the establishment of a national organization for Canadian drug users, tentatively called the Canadian Coalition of People Who Use Drugs. Working groups were established to continue developing this national organization. UNDUN is a part of the ongoing working groups which will continue meeting through teleconferences and an online forum
April 30 - May 4, 2006 : 17th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm, Vancouver, B.C.
The International Harm Reduction Association's annual world conference is the major harm reduction conference in the world. The 2006 conference was attended by some 2000 persons from over 100 countries (activists, frontline workers, government officials, researchers, and medical workers). Stephen Lewis, U.N. Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, presented the opening keynote address.
UNDUN coordinator Brent Taylor presented as a Major Session Speaker on "Drug Users Working With Government". UNDUN coordinator Deb Breau chaired a major session on "Advocacy for Users". UNDUN co-presented a workshop on "Peer Support and Drug Policy" which we co-designed with a harm reduction activist from Belgium.
Deb and Brent were members of the Drug Users Advisory Team for this conference. The DUAG consisted of some 20 user activists from across Canada who were tasked to increase the participation of people who use drugs in all aspects of the conference - as attendees, speakers, consultants, and volunteers. For a year prior to the conference, the DUAG met through weekly teleconferences and two face-to-face meetings in Vancouver, and hosted a website to plan and coordinate user involvement in the IHRA's 2006 Conference, and 1st Canadian Congress of People Who Use Illicit Drugs on the day following the conference. The DUAG's participation in this conference was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
March 29, 2006 : Community Services Fair, Kingston, Ontario
UNDUN presented an information booth for this community networking event and gave a short workshop about the current status drug user groups in Canada.
February 22, 2006 : Class Presentations at St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
Two presentations to two different classes at community college on Harm Reduction and the realities faced by illicit drug users. Presented to a class of approx. 25 students in Addictions program.
January 29/30, 2006 : Drug Users Advisory Team meeting, Vancouver, B.C.
Two days of face to face meetings of user activists from across Canada who are serving as the Drug Users Advisory Team for the International Harm Reduction Association's 2006 World Conference, April 30 - May 4 in Vancouver. These face-to-face meetings are being financially supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Drug Users Advisory Team is also organizing a Canadian Drug Users Congress for May 5, the day following the International Conference. This Congress is intended to be a major step toward the creation of a Canadian Network of Drug User Groups.
January 24, 2006 : Research Subject for Master's Thesis in Rehabilitative Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario
First of several direct interview sessions as principle research subjects for a Master's Thesis for Rehabilitative Medicine. There is thus far little research on drug users from the perspective of Rehabilitative Medicine.
January 18, 2006 : Rethinking Canada's Drug Policy - public Forum on Canadian drug policy at Queen's University. This forum is being organized by UNDUN, with co-sponsorship by Queen's Law School and OPIRG-Kingston.
Confirmed speakers:
Eugene Oscapella - lawyer, professor, director of Candian Foundation for Drug Policy
Libby Davies - Member of Parliament, Vancouver East, NDP Social Justice critic, website
Pending confirmation:
Bub Osborn - poet, co-founder VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users), community activist with Creative Resistance
November 10, 2005 : User Doctoring Workshop, Kingston, Ontario
Information on self-care for users with the assistance of 2 nursing students from Queen's University Nursing School. $5 participation stipend for active users who attend the workshop. HIV/AIDS Regional Services of Kingston provided the space for this workshop to take place.
October 28, 2005 : Harm Reduction Presentation, Algonquin College, Perth, Ontario
Two and a half hour presentation and class discussion on Harm Reduction and the realities faced by illicit drug users. Presented to a class of approx. 25 students in Addictions program.
October 24/25, 2005 : Drug Users Advisory Team meeting, Vancouver, B.C.
Two days of face to face meetings of user activists from across Canada who are serving as the Drug Users Advisory Team for the International Harm Reduction Association's 2006 Conference, April 30 - May 5 in Vancouver.
September 27, 2005 : OPIRG Harm Reduction Workshop, Kingston, Ontario
Presented a workshop to members of OPIRG Kingston about drug user issues, the Belfast International Harm Reduction conference, and harm reduction.
August 22, 2005 : Presentation to annual Picnic of FUN User Group, Toronto, Ontario
Attended the Parkdale FUN (Finally Understanding Narcotics) User Group annual picnic at the Parkdale Community Health Centre. Spoke about user organizing and the upcoming User Congress in Vancouver 2006. Attending by approx. 40 active users from the Parkdale neighbourhood.
August 15, 2005 : Users Unite! Report on Belfast International Harm Reduction Conference
Informational meeting for users in Kingston, Ontario about Belfast International Harm Reduction Conference. Deb Breau, UNDUN coordinator, went to the Belfast conference. Seventeen active drug users from Kingston attended this information session.
May 31, 2005 : public screening of THE FIX! movie in Belleville, Ontario.
UNDUN are working members of the Injection Drug Use Harm Reduction Task Force Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. The Task Force sponsored a free showing of the film at the main theatre in downtown Belleville. About 200 members of the public attended. Two UNDUN members spoke as part of the panel following the film.
March 20-24, 2005 : 16th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Deb Breau attended this world conference of the International Harm Reduction Association. Deb also took part in the International Users Working Group sessions which took place around the conference, and had a delegation meet with IHRA officials. She also appeared on N.Ireland t.v. talk show about user activism.
Deb was able to attend this conference because of the generous support of several local harm reduction agencies who contributed donations to cover the cost of conference registration, airfare, and accomodation. CLICK to see a short video of pictures Deb took while at the conference.
March 18, 2005 : 1st Canadian Crack Conference, Ottawa, Ontario
Attended the conference.
All Human Beings are Born Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights
UNDUN and VANDU members at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa
February 7, 2005 : Community Planning Working Group for HIV/AIDS Services in Southeastern Ontario
UNDUN coordinator Brent Taylor was accepted as a "community champion" representing drug users on this planning group for HIV/AIDS services for the Southeastern Ontario Health Region. The Working Group will meet monthly over the next nine months to develop a complete report on HIV/AIDS services and needs for Southeastern Ontario. Several small community meetings will be held as part of the process of developing the report. Reports are being compiled by all Health Regions in Ontario. Reports will be presented to the Provincial AIDS Bureau in November, 2005.
February 2, 2005 : Round Table Dinner, Queen's University
Harm Reduction talk to attendees at Round Table Dinner. Approx. 20 students participated.
December 2-4, 2004 : Ontario Hepatitis C Coalition
Paticipated in the founding meeting of the Ontario Hepatitis C Coalition. Serve on working group committees.
November 23/25, 2004 : Workshop for Welfare Workers, Trenton, Ontario
Harm Reduction workshop presented to approx. 30 staff from city's social assistance workers. Screened THE FIX! film with discussion following.
October 28, 2004 : Workshop for Children's Aids Society workers, Belleville, Ontario
Presentation to staff of CAS regarding drug user issues. Attended by approx. 20 staff members.
October 14, 2004 : Workshop for Social Assistance workers, Belleville, Ontario
Harm Reduction awareness workshop for staff of the welfare department of City of Belleville. Attended by approx. 30 staff and administration.
April 28, 2004 : Harm Reduction Public Education workshop, Belleville, Ontario
Organized by the Injection Drug Use Task Force. This workshop was for all health, social service and community-based agencies in the Belleville, Ontario area. Our presentation was on drug user issues and the successes of harm reduction practices. Attended by approx. 40 social service agency staff.
April 22, 2004 : Methadone Conference, Kingston, Ontario
Participated in a conference on methadone issues for social service and health agencies in the region.
April 23, 2004 : Protest Conditions at Quinte Regional Detention Centre, Napanee, Ontario
10 UNDUN members held an information picket at the front gate of the jail to protest overcrowding condtions, particularly as they impact detrimentally upon the health of detainees who are HIV+.
UNDUN members protest at main gate of Quinte Detention Centre
March 27 - April 2, 2004 : Canadian Hepatitis C National Conference, Vancouver, B.C.
Attended the conference in Vancouver. Participated in drug user attendees meeting hosted by VANDU at their Downtown Eastside office.
February 1, 2004 HIV/AIDS Regional Service : Volunteer Training Workshop
Presented a Drug User Harm Reduction workshop for agency volunteeers focussing on anti-stigma and harm reduction awareness from a drug users perspective.
January 23.24, 2004 : Health and Human Rights Conference - Queen's University
Presented a workshop on harm reduction from a drug users perspective. Panel participants following the showing of THE FIX! film. Attended by approximately 200 students and faculty and community members.
October 24 -26, 2003 : THE FIX! / VANDU Capacity Building Tour, Kingston, Ontario
Organized three nights of screenings of THE FIX! film at a downtown Kingston theatre. Participated in public forums following the movie. Hosted a VANDU user group meeting. 4 members of VANDU participated, as well as Nettie Wild, filmer of FIX! documentary. Theatre was sold out all three nights.
September 13, 2003 : Music and Awareness for Harm Reduction, Kingston, Ontario
Organized an outdoor all-day concert in the main downtown park in Kingston. Speakers on harm reduction topics between the bands. Informational booths.
Ongoing Meetings and Committees
UNDUN has been assisting user groups organizing in Belleville, Ottawa and Toronto during 2010/2011.
Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC)
Organizing meetings for CDPC began in the spring of 2010, meeting in Vancouver, then again in Ottawa in Winter 2011. Brent is on the initial Steering Committee for the Coalition, and in April 2011 was selected for a 2 year term on the Executive of the Steering Committee.
Working Group, Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs (CAPUD)
UNDUN sits of the working group to to establish CAPUD. This project has been ongoing since the 1st Canadian Drug Users Congress in Vancouver, May 2006. Working group operates by online discussion, email lists, and teleconferences to establish a legally registered, not-for-profit association. CAPUD will eventually serve as an umbrella association and strong advocacy voice for the human rights of people who use illicit drugs in Canada.
Injection Drug Use Task Force for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties
UNDUN is a working member of this task force. The Task Force steering committee meets quarterly at the Public Health Unit in Belleville, Ontario. As well, UNDUN members serve on various working committees of the Task Force.
Ontario Minister of Health Select Advisory Task Force on Hepatitis C
UNDUN coordinator Deb Breau was appointed to this committee for a two year term (April 2005 - April 2007) by the Ontario Minister of Health. This Task Force meets monthly in Toronto. Deb is currently serving a second term from April 2007-April 2009.
International Network of People Who Use Drugs
Brent Taylor was elected to serve on the Interim Board of Driectors of the INPUD at a General Assembly meeting at Barcelona, Spain on May 15th, 2009. No longer a Board member, UNDUN continues to support the work of INPUD.
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Since May 16, 2007