Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

Program of workshops offered at the Pacific AIDS Network Annual Skills Building conference in Cranbrook, BC from February 28th- March 5th, 2006

The document is a report and recommendations presented to Health Canada and the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board by the steering committee appointed to establish a resource centre for drug users in the downtown eastside. The recommendations were developed through extensive community and stakeholder consultation processes. The document provides background on the process of developing the resource centre; details about the steering committee; recommendations that include issues around detox and addiction treatment, inter-governmental partnerships, vision and guiding principles, the governance structure, location and component plans, security concerns, phased implementation, resources for self-help, and research and evaluation.

The document provides a synopsis of the background, process, and structure for community participation and decision making in the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona community of Vancouver. The authors also include a brief description of a proposed four phase plan of action, a list of the principles that guide the process, and a list of the groups involved in Community Directions organization.

The pamphlet provides information on End Legislated Poverty's (ELP) current campaigns; a definition of legislated poverty; ELP's Justice Program; a timeline of past actions; a list of the groups in the ELP coalition; where funding for ELP comes from; and information about how to become involved.