Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

The paper outlines how Canadian drug laws and policies impact on the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases like hepatitis B and C. The author provides a brief description of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the Canadian AIDS Society before providing a summary of the results of a project that explored the legal and ethical issues raised by HIV/AIDS. A review of the literature suggests that drug use should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal activity. The paper also explores the issue of drug use in Canadian prisons and argues that Canadian drug laws and policies contribute to the spread of HIV among prisoners. The paper concludes by supporting the changes to Bill C-8 in the amended version proposed by the Canadian Drug Policy Foundation. An appendix is attached of a paper titled "Criminalization of Drug Use: Ineffective and Unethical" which further supports the claim that laws and policies should be revised because they are ineffective at reducing the harms associated with drug use.

The document includes a description of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) and the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society (DEYAS's) plan for the installation of hazardous material disposal containers to safely dispose of needles as well as the cleanup of medical and human waste in areas frequented by IDUs. The document also includes a number of maps illustrating the physical location of the hazmat disposal containers and the minutes from a meeting organized to coordinate needle pick-up activities in the downtown eastside.

The document is written and developed by patients and members of the HEPV-L mailing list and provides answers to frequently asked questions about hepatitis C (HCV), its treatment, and related complications. Questions are categorized into twelve parts: The Basics; Medical Issues; Treatment (Conventional Medicine); Treatment (Alternative Medicine); Nutrition; Drugs and Alcohol; How Can HVC Affect My Emotional Life?; Living with HCV; Dealing with Interferon Therapy; Where Do We Go From Here?; Employment and Disability; Important Information. The document is a work in progress and this is the third version.

The document provides information about chemical dependency designed to help concerned individuals understand the processes of chemical dependency. The author includes: a definition of chemical dependency; advice about interventions; explanations of enabling and co-dependent behaviours, a list of common feelings associated with detachment, contact information for international support groups for family and friends of alcoholics or addicts, and a recommended reading list of five books and a workbook.