On April 14, 2016 British Columbia declared a public health emergency in response drug poisoning deaths. Since that time, the unregulated drug supply has become more toxic and more unpredictable.

And since that time, at least 11,000 people in British Columbia have died.

Why the change?

When we began and were a much smaller organization we collected membership information via google forms and a spreadsheet, which worked at the time, but was very manual and time-consuming, and also not as secure as our current database. We have also applied to become a charitable organization and have to meet certain requirements, including data protection. The reason for the change is to protect you while allowing us to grow and become stronger as an organization.

Our Alberta advocates together with their allies from Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy rallied for #safesupply at the Alberta legislature, on the opening day of the fall session. About fifty people braved frigid Alberta temperatures and stayed warm with chants, including “safe supply or we die” and “If you are not angry, you are not paying attention.”

Coinciding with the re-opening of the Alberta Legislature, this rally is a call for the government to take urgent action on the ongoing drug poisoning crisis that continues to kill more Albertans aged 25 to 39 than any other cause of death. Many of our moms carried poster-size images of the children they lost, others brought signs and photos.

To highlight the need to prevent harm and death that comes from toxic street drugs we handed out a safe regulated supply at the rally and provided a sample to all MLAs. While our sample, consisting of caffeine, would not make the best cup of coffee, we hoped it might support some critical thinking.