Resources

In honour of International Overdose Awareness Day, tell your MLA that bold and immediate action is necessary for decriminalization and legal regulation to be effective against the toxic drug crisis. 

There has been an increase in attacks on harm reduction strategies in Canadian politics and the media—including the decriminalization of small amounts of drugs, safer supply, and safe injection sites.  

At FIRST UNITED, we know that harm reduction is an effective and evidence-based approach, and that it’s the most dignified way to prevent overdose deaths.  

The disinformation that is being spread about the toxic drug crisis and harm reduction increases stigma and endangers those who are at risk of dying from the toxic drug supply. We’re seeing stigma play a role in crucial life-saving services being cut. Recently, overdose prevention sites are even being closed by government officials. We can’t afford to lose these services now. Not when we’re losing six people every day to this crisis.  

Last year, we called on the provincial government to urgently implement bolder measures to prevent more deaths. Our position on drug policy hasn’t changed, and we are renewing our call to have these important measures taken.  

Will you use your voice to urge the government to make crucial changes now? Lives depend on it. 

This letter writing campaign has ended. As of October 2023, 232 letters were sent to BC MLAs. Below are the contents of the original letter:

Dear [MLA].

I’m writing to express my concern that more needs to be done by the B.C. Government to stop overdose deaths and end the toxic drug crisis. Bolder changes to drug policy need to be made immediately. August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, and in honour of those we’ve lost, I call on you to work with your colleagues in all levels of government to take immediate, evidence-based action to end the crisis and prevent unnecessary deaths.

I call on you, as my elected official, to urge the provincial government to:

1. Provide greater access to safe supply so that people who use substances won’t have to turn to the toxic drug supply that is killing members of the community.
2. Increase the threshold level to match the needs of drug users. Many with lived and living experience have stated that the 2.5 gram cumulative limit is insufficient. This threshold will continue to criminalize the majority of people who use drugs, including:
   o Substance users with higher tolerances—considering that the average amount carried by people who use drugs is 4.5 grams per substance.
   o Poly-substance users who will carry different types of substances and will likely exceed the limit.
   o People in remote and rural areas whose access to drugs is limited, and tend to buy in higher quantities because of interruptions in supply.
   o People who are unhoused with no place to store their drugs, and therefore need to carry their substances on them at all times.
   o People who are under 18 and are still subject to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
3. Relieve police from the task of referring substance users to social or health programs. Substance use is a health issue and not a criminal one. Police involvement perpetuates oppression and stigmatization. Qualified social service professionals are better equipped to handle these referrals.
4. Prioritize actively addressing the challenges of homelessness, poverty, mental health and physical health, and racism. All these factors intersect with substance use and addiction, and need to be prioritized in conjunction with decriminalization and legal regulation of drug use.

B.C. has lost over 12,000 lives to the toxic drug supply since 2016. I urge you to push for these bold and necessary changes quickly. We can’t afford to lose any more lives.

Sincerely,
[Name of Sender]