Creating Vectors of Disease Prevention: Empowering Drug Users

Describes VANDU and the National Capacity Building Project it undertook in 2003-4 to meet with and build capacity of people who use drugs in thirteen Canadian cities. VANDU members also met with AIDS service organizations and other groups that provide support to injection drug users and crack smokers. Concludes that the project was successful, that much was learned about the conditions drug users face across Canada, and that user-run drug user groups are very much needed for active political lobbying for harm reduction initiatives and ends with a series of recommendations to Health Canada.