By Mike Ma, Jan. 16, 2024

Today, I had the opportunity to attend a demonstration organized by the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) in support of Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum. The event was held at 800 Hornby — the downtown courthouse — and was truly inspiring, featuring numerous speakers advocating for drug decriminalization, safe supply, and compassion clubs.

Among the speakers was Pete Woodrow from the Surrey Union of Drug Users, an organization I’m proud to be a part of. Pete did an excellent job emphasizing the need for solidarity, activism, and compassion.

Garth Mullins, the producer of the Crackdown Podcast, also spoke and shared his personal journey as a drug user. As he stood on the steps of the courthouse and pointed, he recounted his younger days spent near the trees and bushes of the courthouse where he remembers drinking and using drugs. His experiences with the shame of criminalization lent a profound authenticity to his narrative. His impassioned speech underscored the need for a regulated safe supply and a non-medicalized approach to addressing the toxic drug supply.

He highlighted the role of compassion clubs, where people support each other in a non-institutional, non-medicalized setting. Additionally, he advocated for the continued prescription of medical-grade opioids by healthcare professionals.

A second-year medical student, Elaine Hu, from UBC also spoke at the event. She provided a very valuable perspective on the rates of overdose and the safety of those who have access to overdose prevention and safe supply. As a future medical professional, she emphasized how evidence-based research shows clear evidence supporting safe supply and absolute necessity for the decriminalization of unregulated drugs. She cited studies showing people are less likely to die after receiving safe supply only once per day.  She suggested that the lack of endorsement for this approach by all levels of government was criminal.

“Mom, Stop the Harm” was also in attendance at the event. Their representative, Deb Bailey, who tragically lost her daughter to the toxic drug supply, spoke with great passion. She shared how a safe supply had significantly benefited her child when it was available, suggesting that her daughter Ola might still be alive today had she continued to have access to it. Deb commended DULF’s efforts in distributing tested, safe drugs, expressing the comfort it brought her knowing her child was using safe substances. She conveyed her sadness over the discontinuation of this program due to the arrests of Eris and Jeremy by the VPD, and the ongoing criminalization of drugs.

Despite the cold weather, I stayed for the entire event, which lasted about an hour and a half to two hours. The turn out was pretty great considering the cold spell. The presence and solidarity of about 150 to 200 people at the rally underscored the importance of the event, the importance of supporting DULF, Erys and Jeremy. Their work is crucial, and we must continue to support their efforts.