"The criminalisation of illicit drug users is fuelling the HIV epidemic and has resulted in overwhelmingly negative health and social consequences. A full policy reorientation is needed."

Please visit www.viennadeclaration.com and join the global call for evidence based illicit drug policy.

The Vienna Declaration was drafted by a team of international experts, and initiated by the International AIDS Society, the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP), and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. The Declaration cites "overwhelming evidence" that not only has the excessive focus on drug law enforcement failed, but that the current policies create harmful consequences. Just some of these consequences noted are:

• HIV epidemics fuelled by the criminalisation of people who use illicit drugs and by prohibiting sterile needle provision and opiod substitution treatment
• HIV outbreaks in prisons due to lack of HIV prevention services provided and punitive laws
• The undermining of public health systems when law enforcement drives drug users away from HIV prevention services and towards riskier environments
• Stigma towards people who use illicit drugs, which reinforcesthe political popularity of criminalising drug users and undermines HIV prevention and other health promotion efforts
• Billions of dollars wasted on a 'War on Drugs' approach to drug control that does not achieve its stated objectives and, instead, directly or indirectly contributes to the above harms

Read the rest of the Vienna Declaration, and sign it here!

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED!

They called it Bill C-26.  They called it Bill C-15. Now they're calling it Bill S-10. It means more money for prisons and enforcement.  It means less safer communities.  It means less money for treatment, prevention, and harm reduction.

The Conservative government has re-introduced their mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug crimes legislation in the Senate.  Now that the Senate balance is shifted towards the Conservatives, this legislation could got through frightenly fast.  WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THIS!

CONTACT YOUR SENATOR!  Make a phone call, write a short letter, send a fax, whatever!  Just contact the Senator's in your province and demand they stop this dangerous legislation now!  Don't wait. Don't hesitate.  AGITATE!

WRITE YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER!  Send in a letter to the editor, written from your heart, describing how an increased drug war means less safe communities.  The shorter it is the more likely they will print it.  And while your at it, write the national newspapers too!

TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS, PARENTS, CO-WORKERS, EVERYONE!  Tell them that mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug crimes will not protect young people.  It will actually put them in more danger from the criminal justice system and organized gangs.  It is up to us to build the momentum, and a simple conversation is the best way to start!  

RALLY!  Hold a demonstration in your community to show opposition to failed drug policies.  Want help?  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Keep us posted on your actions, and let us know what we can do to help!

For more information on the re-introduction check out this news story featuring CSSDP executive director Tara Lyons,
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Tories+revive+mandatory+sentences+drug+crimes/2990795/story.html

For a pdf version of Bill S-10, go to
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/403/Government/S-10/S-10_1/S-10_1.PDF  

A new report produced by the Urban Health Research Initiative asked the question, 'Does drug law enforcement affect levels of drug market violence?'  The authors' review of 15 english language studies found that there was a link between increased enforcement efforts and an increase in drug market violence. Click here for a link to the full report.

The study finds that "drug market violence appears to be a natural consequence of drug prohibition."  

The study also finds that "drug law enforcement practices aimed to disrupt drug markets may have the unintentional effect of increasing levels of drug market violence."

Regarding Bill C-15, the study indicates that the proposed legislation, aside from creating massive prison expenditures, while not deterring drug use or drug crime, will lead to an increase in violence and crime. 

Will the Government continue to ignore the evidence that Bill C-15 will not protect youth, and actually threatens the safety and well-being of all Canadians?