CSSDP's third annual student run national conference has come and gone, and it was a great success!  While we couldn't get it all, we have managed to capture many of the speakers on video, and you can access them through our website.  Just click here to watch some of the fantastic speakers from the 'Blueprints for Beyond Prohibition' conference.  Enjoy!

July 22, 2010

Dear Hon. Ms. Leona Aglukkaq,

We are writing to you to express our frustration, anger, and sheer confusion over the Canadian government’s refusal to acknowledge and support the use of harm reduction strategies and policies as part of a national and international drug strategy.  Originally, we were going to write to you to express the desire of young people across Canada and the world for you to sign the Vienna Declaration, a global call to reform drug policies to reflect scientific evidence on best practices to stop the AIDS epidemic.  We then heard the statement from a Canadian official saying that the Vienna Declaration was inconsistent with the National Anti-Drug Strategy because of its inclusion of harm reduction services.  We realized this letter had to address the root of the problem: the neglectful, irresponsible, socially damaging policy that is the National Anti-Drug Strategy.  We have been and continue to be especially concerned about the removal of harm reduction as a pillar of drug policy, and the criminalization and stigmatization of drug users.