About the Network

Who we are

The Canadian Harm Reduction Network is the virtual meeting place for individuals and organizations dedicated to reducing the social, health and economic harms associated with drugs and drug policies. It was founded in 1999 by a group of activists who work locally, nationally and internationally in harm reduction and drug policy/law reform. We have over 1,000 members, and an list of over 34,000 email addresses, approximately 75% of which are in Canada. We post two to four mailings per month.

 

The principal aims of the Network are:

  1. To provide a vehicle for harm reduction activists, supporters and workers, and drug users and drug user organizations to discuss their needs and issues, share information, support one another and catalyse the development of effective harm reduction practices across Canada; and
  2. To work for the reform of drug law and policy.

 

Mission

The mission of The Canadian Harm Reduction Network is to serve as an umbrella organization and virtual meeting place for individuals and groups across Canada committed to reducing the health, social and economic harms associated with drugs and drug polices.

 

Our goals are:

  • To develop in Canada a network of harm reduction workers, agencies, organisations, individuals and groups of individuals, including people with current drug use experience, for the purpose of exchanging information and providing mutual support;
  • To educate the public, politicians, legislators and the media about the efficacy and legitimacy of Harm Reduction for redressing the consequences of the use and distribution of illicit drugs;
  • To ensure that drug policies in Canada exemplify true Harm Reduction; and
  • To work collaboratively to end the war on drugs and on the people who use them.

 

What we do

We have made presentations on harm reduction and drug policy before special committees of both the Canadian Senate and House, as well as at many conferences world-wide; we participated in the development of Canada's Drug Strategy; and (together with the Canadian AIDS Society) have researched harm reduction practices in small-to-medium sized Canadian cities.

We have also provided consultation on program development to agencies across Canada regarding drug use and HIV and HCV.

The Canadian Harm Reduction Network is a founding member of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition and collaborates on drug policy and human rights issues with the International Harm Reduction Association and a world-wide consortium of harm reduction networks.

 

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