Help VANDU Gather, Grieve & Remember This International Overdose Awareness Day

On the unceded and overlapping territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations.

Ten years into B.C.’s toxic drug public health emergency, we are still grieving.

Since 2016, more than 18,000 people in B.C. have died from toxic drugs.

In 2026, B.C. formally ended its decriminalization pilot, and imposed strict barriers onto prescribed safer supply access, narrowing measures that were meant to reduce the harms of criminalization and the unregulated drug market. At its peak, only 5% of opioid users in BC ever received access to some level of a medicalized safe supply and since then, thousands have been deprescribed during a crisis.

People are still dying, while communities continue the daily work of overdose response, harm reduction, outreach, care, and organizing. Paramedics responded to more than 800 overdoses in each of March and April in the Vancouver Coastal Region. This is the highest number of overdoses in the area since the summer of 2021, when COVID-19 was at its peak. This does not account for the countless overdoses and drug poisonings that community members, frontline workers and other peers respond to in their everyday lives.

This is not localized just here in BC.

Across Canada, 56,631 people died from opioid toxicity between 2016 and the end of 2025.

In the United States, there were more than 832,000 drug overdose deaths over those same ten years.

Every country counts these deaths differently. But none of these numbers are just numbers.

They are our friends, family, neighbours, members and loved ones.

In its 25th year, IOAD now brings together more than 1,000 events in over 40 countries.

This year, we’re planning a community memorial at Oppenheimer Park for the neighbourhood to mourn, eat, make art, share stories and stand together.

And, a public rally will kick off in the evening at the Vancouver Art Gallery with a Speaker’s Corner and screenings. Some parts of the day are still coming together, and we’ll share more as they are confirmed.

This gathering is organized by, with, and for the community most affected by this crisis.

We remember those we have lost.

We stand with those who are still here.

The blessing of VANDU comes to Us through our ill, difficult members.

The most remarkable experience of those members who reach out to our abandoned, street involved members is that, in the end,

They give more than They receive.

They give Us Hope!

One of our members called it simply:

“A day of remembrance for others and ourselves.”

The ask

We are raising $7,000 to help make the day accessible to the people most affected.

Donations will support food and water, peer member stipends, transportation, Elder and speaker honoraria, memorial and art materials, permits, equipment, harm reduction supplies and the practical work of bringing people together safely.

Who is VANDU?

The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users was formed in 1998 by people who use and formerly used illicit drugs. For 28 years, VANDU members have organized, provided peer support, fought for life-saving harm reduction and made sure people who use drugs have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

This day is organized by, with and for the community most affected.

We remember those we have lost.

We stand with those who are still here.

Find out more at VANDU

*VANDU is a nonprofit organization and is not a registered charity. Donations are not eligible for charitable tax receipts.

** You can also send e-transfers to: [email redacted]

Please include a note for what you are donating for.