Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users marks 10 years of B.C.’s drug emergency, demands stronger action on toxic supply crisis

Members of Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users gathered Tuesday to mark a sobering milestone — 10 years since British Columbia declared a public health emergency over rising drug overdose deaths.

The rally honoured the more than 18,000 people who have died from toxic drugs since April 14, 2016, while also serving as a renewed call for action.

Remembering lives lost

VANDU president David Hamm said the event was about more than statistics — it was about people, families and communities affected across the province.

“Today is about all the people that have been lost,” he said. “It’s not just our friends down here — it’s a cross-section of society.”

A moment of silence was held during the rally, followed by what organizers described as a “moment of rage,” reflecting both grief and frustration after a decade of ongoing crisis.

A decade of advocacy

Founded in 1997 during a surge in HIV infections, VANDU has long been at the forefront of harm reduction efforts in Vancouver. The group played a key role in the creation of Insite in 2003 — the first supervised injection site in North America.

Over the years, its work has included distributing clean needles, promoting drug testing and encouraging people not to use substances alone.

While once viewed as a more confrontational advocacy group — known for staging protests with symbolic coffins — VANDU has since gained broader recognition for its role in public health outreach.

Calls for stronger measures

Despite that progress, Hamm said governments are not doing enough — and in some cases are retreating from harm reduction policies.

He urged leaders to prioritize a regulated “safe supply” of drugs to reduce deaths linked to toxic and unpredictable street substances.

“We’re calling for an end to this farce,” he said. “It’s way too long.”

Community impact

For attendees like Jenni Wren, the organization represents more than advocacy — it offers a sense of belonging.

“It’s like a family,” she said, pushing back against stigma often associated with people who use drugs.

“A lot of people out here are not what people think. It’s a lot of good people that care about each other.”

An ongoing crisis

Ten years after the emergency declaration, advocates say the crisis remains far from over.

For VANDU and its supporters, the anniversary is both a memorial and a reminder — that without stronger action, more lives will be lost.

“We’re not going to give up,” Hamm said.