Workers for Ethical Substance Use Policy

The war on drugs is a war on workers Workplace drug policies are hurting workers and unions need to step up

"The war on drugs is a war on workers and the labour movement must fight back. This is a call to action."

briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/vie...

"The War on Drugs is a War on Workers"
Pick up the latest issue of @briarpatchmag.bsky.social

Attn: @drugdatadecoded.ca @candrugpolicy.bsky.social @hrna.bsky.social

November/December 2025: The labour issue Workplace drug policy is hurting workers and unions can do more. Plus: lessons from a harm reduction union, solidarity with incarcerated workers, sewing solidarity in Winnipeg, rural unionism, and more. Cover art by Amanda Priebe.

📢 Our labour issue is out now and ready to order!

Featuring: pushing against harmful drug policy, rural unionism, garment worker wins, a reading list, and more

Cover art by Amanda Priebe

WOW Statement: End the Global War on Drugs WOW Statement: End the Global War on Drugs Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day brings people together around the world to take action on preventable overdose deaths and the legislate...

"War on Drugs everywhere is a deliberately punitive war that destabilizes communities, blocks access to care, and maintains colonialism and capitalism through carceral systems of police & prisons & borders & gentrification & involuntary treatment."

www.weavingourworlds.ca/wow-statemen...

"The War on Drugs is a War on Workers"
Pick up the latest issue of @briarpatchmag.bsky.social

Attn: @drugdatadecoded.ca @candrugpolicy.bsky.social @hrna.bsky.social

Government is murdering us with prohibition drug policy.
The working class has the power to force policy change and stop the killing. Workers united will never be defeated!

@susibcfed.bsky.social @canadianlabour.bsky.social @psacbc.bsky.social @cupebc.bsky.social
@garthmullins.bsky.social

Out enemies are targeting reproductive rights rights, trans rights, the rights of those with mental illness and the rights of drug users. We’re building solidarity and fighting back.

Join our webinar “Shared Struggles, Shared Rights: Building Solidarity for Bodily Autonomy” to explore how drug policy, reproductive rights, mental health, and trans rights intersect.

🗓️ Date: Feb 12, 2025 | 11 AM PT | 2 PM ET

RSVP now: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Meet the Panelists!
➡️ Angele Desroches
➡️ Star Oldring
➡️ @byronwood.bsky.social ( @wesup.bsky.social )
➡️ Lian Lo ( @healthjusticeca.bsky.social )

BC gov repealed Bill 34, a small but hard-fought victory against politically-driven laws and policies that inflict harm upon those made most vulnerable by oppressive systems. #BCpoli @pivotlegalsociety.bsky.social @hrna.bsky.social

Read the full joint statement: drugpolicy.ca/for-immediat...

Comment: B.C. embeds mental health stigma and discrimination in legal regulation Bill 21 makes unwarranted assumptions, creates false and stigmatizing connections between lawyers experiencing health conditions and their competency.

We're applying to "Intervene" in this case when it goes to the Appeals Court. Workers diagnosed with "substance use disorder" should not be required to undergo "treatment" as a condition of employment.
@godfrey.bsky.social @garthmullins.bsky.social
www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...

We're challenging workplace drug policy
@susibcfed.bsky.social @garthmullins.bsky.social

Comment: B.C. embeds mental health stigma and discrimination in legal regulation Bill 21 makes unwarranted assumptions, creates false and stigmatizing connections between lawyers experiencing health conditions and their competency.

We're applying to "Intervene" in this case when it goes to the Appeals Court. Workers diagnosed with "substance use disorder" should not be required to undergo "treatment" as a condition of employment.
@godfrey.bsky.social @garthmullins.bsky.social
www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...

Episode 49: The Best Place — Crackdown Podcast Vancouver, British Columbia is one of the best places on earth – a world class city surrounded by ocean and mountains. If you can afford it, the good life is yours.  But over the last fifteen ye...

Vancouver is the best place. A scenic, world-class city. But reaching the 'good life' has never been harder.

If you haven't already, check out our newest ep, featuring Danya Fast & Sarah West. They tell us about how Vancouver has gotten more dangerous—especially for young drug users.

rb.gy/lr48gv

Episode 49: The Best Place — Crackdown Podcast Vancouver, British Columbia is one of the best places on earth – a world class city surrounded by ocean and mountains. If you can afford it, the good life is yours.  But over the last fifteen ye...

🚨New @crackdownpod.bsky.social episode. Are we movement journalism for the struggle or are we just documenting the death of an entire community - comrade by comrade? Are we writing another epitaph with each episode? www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

Island Health assesses its response to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and hard drugs Dr. Réka Gustafson hopes her report will lead to more discussion about substance use

Ideal drug policy would strictly regulate illicit substances in order to ensure composition and reduce toxicity, according to a report by Island Health's chief medical health officer.

www.nanaimobulletin.com/local-news/i....

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs denied access to medical records in transplant discrimination case | CBC News The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) will not have access to the medical records of Indigenous patients it says were harmed by provincial health providers’ liver transplant policies, the B.C. Human...

To be eligible for a liver transplant in BC, patients have to be abstinent from alcohol for 6 months.

Hopefully the Human Rights Tribunal will force the province to stop this discriminatory requirement that disproportionately harms Indigenous people. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Discrimination from employers & doctors makes it difficult for people with addictions to maintain employment.

Article: tinyurl.com/5fwfw4zy

Discrimination from employers & doctors makes it difficult for people with addictions to maintain employment.

Article: tinyurl.com/5fwfw4zy

We support our fellow workers who have been harmed by government & workplace drug policy, and we fight for change.
wesup.org

To respect, support and keep all workers safe, let’s ensure our drug policies are grounded in evidence, not stigma. #BCFed2024

🔥Today the BC Federation of Labour unanimously agreed to advocate for the inclusion of addiction treatment services in universal public health care.
#BCFED2024 @susibcfed.bsky.social

Rebuilding Workplace Substance Use Policy Using a Harm Reduction Lens

💥 Video recording of today's presentation:
www.substanceusehealth.ca/rebuilding-w...

with @nsscop-suhn.bsky.social @nurseranger.bsky.social @byronwood.bsky.social Charlotte Ross, Katrina Stephenson

This was a great webinar!

Rebuilding Workplace Substance Use Policy Using a Harm Reduction Lens

💥 Video recording of today's presentation:
www.substanceusehealth.ca/rebuilding-w...

with @nsscop-suhn.bsky.social @nurseranger.bsky.social @byronwood.bsky.social Charlotte Ross, Katrina Stephenson

Rebuilding Workplace Substance Use Policy Using a Harm Reduction Lens

A fantastic discussion at today's webinar about Rebuilding Workplace Substance Use Policy Using a Harm Reduction Lens!

Watch the recording & get the resources: www.substanceusehealth.ca/rebuilding-w...

Big thanks to Byron Wood (WESUP), Corey Ranger (HRNA), Katrina Stephenson, & Charlotte Ross!