Jeremy Kalicum DULF

The Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) Compassion Club piloted a non-medicalized safer supply model in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, providing at-cost, quality-controlled illicit substances to individuals at risk of overdose. This 14-month study explores participants' perceived impacts of club membership on drug use patterns, overdose risk, harm reduction practices, and overall well-being. Data were collected from 43 participants through interviewer-administered surveys. Results indicate reduced drug use, lower dependence on the illicit market, increased naloxone carrying, and improved mental and physical health. Participants suggested program improvements, including expanded operating hours and a wider selection of substances. This study highlights the potential of non-medicalized safer supply models as harm reduction strategies and contributes to emerging literature on overdose prevention. Further research is recommended to optimize non-medicalized approaches within the broader landscape of public health interventions.