After one year of operating our heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine compassion club, we have analyzed our data and presented preliminary findings here.

Our fourth paper has been released on participant perceptions of the impacts of a de-medicalized safer supply program. The results? Survey respondents reported: Less drug use (64%) Less reliance on street supply (87%) Fewer overdoses (90%)
More sterile gear use (85%) Better mental health (74%) Improved overall well-being (70% substanceabusepolicy.biomedc…

Legal Aid Fundraiser II An Open Letter to Our Supporters: Join Us in the Fight for Harm Reduction Dear Friends, Allies, and Advocates, Between August 2022 and October 2023, the Drug User Liberation Front’s Compassion Club and Fulfillment Centre (DULF CC&FC) made history. As the first initiative of its kind, we offered a groundbreaking approach amidst an escalating overdose crisis in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). Operating as a non-profit, low-barrier, and non-medicalized model, we built on decades of harm reduction strategies by providing rigorously tested heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, at cost, paired with a supervised consumption space. We proved that a regulated drug supply isn’t just a concept; it’s a solution that saves lives. But our work, and the lives it impacted, remain at risk. What’s at Stake DULF co-founders Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum are facing criminal charges under section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) for the compassionate and life-saving work of providing a regulated, predictable drug supply to some of the people most at risk from the toxic drug supply. We are now engaged in a legal battle to defend harm reduction, challenge outdated drug laws, and demand justice for those disproportionately affected by the toxic drug crisis. This legal challenge seeks to prove that section 5(2) of the CDSA is unconstitutional and that its enforcement is killing the very people it purports to protect. We argue: 1. Section 7 (Life, Liberty, and Security of the Person): Criminalizing alternatives to the unregulated street supply of drugs denies people access to a predictable, safer alternative, forcing them to rely on volatile and deadly street drugs. This prohibition is arbitrary, overbroad, and disproportionately endangers lives. 2. Section 15 (Equality Before the Law): This law perpetuates discrimination against people with disabilities, including those living with substance use disorders, by depriving them of safer options and treating their lives as less worthy of dignity and protection. We will back up these arguments with a large body of evidence regarding the efficacy of safer supply generally and of our compassion club specifically. We will present first-hand evidence about how our program worked and the positive results it achieved, as well as evidence from leading experts in the fields of addictions, epidemiology, public health and drug-checking. By challenging this law, we’re fighting not just for safer supply but for systemic change. This case has the potential to set a precedent that could save countless lives across Canada. The Progress We’ve Made Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, we successfully raised $150,000 in 2024 to cover the initial stages of this legal fight. Those funds have allowed us to challenge these charges and lay the groundwork for this constitutional case. But the fight is far from over. As we move deeper into this complex legal battle, the stakes, and the costs, are rising. The Road Ahead Our case is currently heading to trial in the BC Supreme Court, with the possibility of appeals to the BC Court of Appeal and, ultimately, the Supreme Court of Canada. The timeline is demanding: October 6–10, October 14–17, and October 20-24: Crown’s case on the charges and our exemption defense. November 24–28, December 1–5, and December 8–12: Evidence on our constitutional challenge. January 26-30: Oral arguments on the constitutional challenge. Our lawyers will need to put a huge amount of effort into preparing and presenting our evidence and legal arguments. They are working at a fraction of their normal rates, but because of the time required the cost will still be very high. To this end, we must raise $350,000 by October 1st, and we need your help to ensure we can present the most rigorous, effective case possible. How You Can Help E-Transfers and PayPal, send funds to: druguserliberationfront@gmail.com Bitcoin Donations, send Bitcoin to: bc1qhtj9v8tu0vwhwef4p56qn5slwanq0sd5f7tqmj Monero Donations, send Monero to: 44nir2Kcv1R9XSTTwpPS1eGna1psMVnEtWoK2BeEe5Ld7TU9BuunLD84gSSgydLPMqa5bb9rKGLw2FywNge4USuoKSZQmvV Join Our Legal Sustainer Donor Program: Become a dedicated partner in the fight for harm reduction and legal justice. By contributing regularly through DULF’s Sustainer Donor Program, you help fund critical legal costs, policy reform advocacy, and support for those most impacted by discriminatory drug policies. Learn more and join here: opencollective.com/dulf Spread the Word: Share this letter and help us rally support for harm reduction and safer supply. Stay Engaged: Starting March 1, 2025, we’ll provide biweekly updates on our website, and to our mailing list. These updates will track our fundraising progress and any case developments. This Is More Than a Legal Case This case represents the front line in the fight against Canada’s toxic drug crisis. Safer supply is a proven public health measure that reduces overdose deaths, challenges stigma, and saves lives. But entrenched opposition, rooted in fear and misinformation, continues to push back against harm reduction with punitive policies that only deepen the crisis. This is a fight for science, compassion, and justice over stigma, cruelty, and negligence. With your help, we can ensure that life-saving strategies like safer supply are not just defended but expanded. Let’s Make History Together DULF’s CC&FC proved that a better way is possible. We showed that compassion, innovation, and evidence-based solutions can save lives and inspire change. Now, we need your help to protect this progress. Your support got us through the first stage of this fight, now, let’s finish it. Together, we can challenge unjust laws, defend harm reduction, and fight for a future where no one is left behind in the overdose crisis. Link to original post: dulf.ca/dulf-aid-2/

🚨PAPER RELEASE - LINK BELOW🚨 We present our third academic paper, a dive into the now-shuttered Compassion Club and Fulfillment Centre. What once stood as a safe haven, offering dignity and hope in a society bent on punishment, has been crushed under legal pressures and political scorn. In this paper you will see the Compassion Club wasn’t just about providing regulated access to substances. It was a place of resistance, where people could access community-regulated substances, avoid overdose, and reclaim some control over their lives. It was about more than health; it was about dignity, self-worth, and recognizing the humanity of those society so easily writes off. It was a rare space of connection, belonging, and purpose. But this research isn’t just a look back—it’s a call to action. It challenges the failed drug policies that led to this point and asks us to imagine a different future. It argues that compassion isn’t just a kind gesture; it’s a powerful force for change, one that can reshape lives and society. True care means recognizing that everyone, no matter their struggles, deserves respect and dignity. While the closure of the Compassion Club is a deep loss, it’s not the end of the story. This paper is a reminder of what was possible and a push to keep fighting for a better way—a world where care, not punishment, is the norm, and where we show up for one another when it matters most. journals.plos.org/plosone/ar…

Update: We’ve Reached Our $150,000 Legal Aid Goal—What Comes Next?   Dear Supporters,   We are overjoyed to share the incredible news that, thanks to your unwavering support, we have officially reached our $150,000 legal aid fundraising goal! This achievement is a major milestone in our ongoing battle for justice, harm reduction, and the rights of drug users. Every donation, share, and expression of solidarity has made this possible, and we cannot thank you enough.   As many of you know, DULF’s co-founders, Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum, were each charged on May 31, 2024, with three counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking under Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). These charges are not just an attack on Eris and Jeremy but on our entire movement’s mission to end the overdose crisis in British Columbia, reduce dependence on the illicit drug supply, and reduce the harms caused by toxic street drugs. These legal battles are daunting. The charges carry serious consequences, including the possibility of life sentences or mandatory minimum jail time. But this fight is about more than just defending two individuals; it’s about advocating for the rights and dignity of drug users everywhere. We firmly believe that Eris and Jeremy’s Charter rights—particularly under Section 7, which guarantees life, liberty, and security of the person—have been violated by the criminalization of DULF’s lifesaving work. Beyond defending against these criminal charges, DULF is also bringing forward a constitutional challenge to Section 5(2) of the CDSA. We argue that this section of the law unjustly criminalizes access to a regulated drug supply—something we know is vital to addressing the overdose crisis. This challenge also asserts that the law discriminates against people with disabilities, as it disproportionately affects those with substance use disorders, forcing them to rely on dangerous, unregulated street drugs.   Reaching the $150,000 goal means that we can now cover the immediate legal expenses necessary to defend Eris and Jeremy, as well as support our constitutional challenge. But while this achievement is monumental, it’s just the beginning. As we move forward, 2025 will bring new legal hurdles. We will need to raise additional funds to cover the costs of expert witnesses, legal experts, continued representation, and other expenses tied to this case. Defending Eris and Jeremy in court and pursuing our challenge to the CDSA will require significant resources, and we anticipate that this fight will continue well into the next year. That’s why we’re asking for your continued support. Whether through donations, hosting fundraising events, or simply sharing our message with your networks, every action you take helps strengthen our movement. We’ve seen what we can achieve together already—now, let’s build on that momentum as we head into the next phase of this fight. Thank you for standing with us in solidarity, and for your ongoing dedication to the cause of harm reduction and justice. Together, we’re not just defending two people; we’re fighting for a future where drug policy is driven by compassion, not criminalization. In solidarity,
The DULF Team

Watch today’s press conference here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=waJbbP…

Toxic Drugs, Toxic Politics, Toxic Policy. October 15, 2024 - 11:00AM PST DULF.ca

#DULF | En medio de la crisis por sobredosis, el proyecto DULF (Drug User Liberation Front) @dulfbc en Canadá, surgió como una respuesta innovadora y legal. Apoyado inicialmente por las autoridades, el ‘Compassion Club’ comenzó distribuyendo drogas seguras y testeadas para salvar vidas. A pesar de la evidencia que muestra cero sobredosis fatales entre sus usuarixs, sus líderes enfrentan cargos por tráfico, subrayando la tensión entre el activismo por los derechos humanos y las políticas punitivas de drogas en Canadá​. Puedes apoyar a DULF en este enlace 👉 opencollective.com/dulf

Today DULF published its second peer reviewed academic paper on the Compassion Club and Fulfillment Centre model. sciencedirect.com/science/ar…

🚨CONTINUE TO STAND WITH ERIS & JEREMY 🚨 On July 30, 2024, Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum pled not guilty to all three charges under Section 5 (2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and elected to pursue justice in the British Columbia Supreme Court. In addition to their plea, they are refusing any and all plea bargains offered by the state - both because they are innocent, and because Canada’s regressive drug policies need to be challenged. This fight will take an incredible amount of time and resources! The Drug User Liberation Front is fundraising to support our criminal defence. We have set an initial goal of $150,000, but we know our defence will ultimately cost more than that. As part of our defence we will challenge the constitutionality of the CDSA as applied to our compassion club. We will demonstrate that, by prohibiting practical access to a safer supply of drugs, the CDSA violates s. 7 (life, liberty and security of the person) and s. 15 (equality) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This constitutional challenge is a critically important opportunity to establish constitutional protections for safer supply as a harm reduction strategy in the face of this terrifying toxic drug crisis. It is clear that the politicians and bureaucrats will not protect the drug user community. Once again, we have to do it ourselves. We ask that you join us by donating to our legal fund. Together we can transform Canada’s dangerous drug policies in order to save lives. 🔗 Donate now and be part of the change! 🔗 DULF via Open Collective at: opencollective.com/dulf DULF via E-Transfer or PayPal at: druguserliberationfront@gmail.com

Your generous donations to DULF's Legal Defense have empowered our fight for justice and the rights of PWUD everywhere. Your support ensures we can continue challenging unjust policies and provide much-needed aid to DULF. Thank you for standing with us in this crucial battle.

Lawyers for the Vancouver-based compassion club @DULFBC argued last week why Health Canada should have helped it save lives during the ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis. @Michelle_Gamage reports the day in court. thetyee.ca/News/2024/03/14/R…

Today DULF will challenge Health Canada’s decision to reject our application for a section 56 exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances act. theguardian.com/world/2024/m…

It’s official: Research first published informally by Vancouver’s Drug User Liberation Front (@DULFBC) has now been published in a peer-reviewed international journal. It confirms DULF’s tested-drug distribution did in fact save lives. thetyee.ca/News/2024/03/05/S…

Exciting milestone: This peer-reviewed paper delves into the impacts of DULF's compassion club. Creating accessible alternatives to the unregulated drug market is key in halting the ongoing tragedy. sciencedirect.com/science/ar…