The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC) is a policy advocacy organization comprised of around 50 organizations and over 7,000 individuals striving to end the harms of drug prohibition. It operates as a project within Simon Fraser University in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Our vision is for a safe, healthy, and just Canada in which drug policies and legislation, as well as related institutional practices, are based on evidence, human rights, social inclusion, and public health principles. The CDPC seeks to include people who use drugs and those harmed by the war on drugs in moving toward a healthier Canadian society free of stigma and social exclusion
Our mission is to advance and realize drug policies grounded in compassion and guided by science, and shift the public narrative on substance use and people who use drugs. Internationally, the CDPC provides key engagement at the United Nations level and participates in national processes focusing on international drug policy issues.
“Arresting and incarcerating millions of people in recent decades has filled prisons and destroyed lives and families without reducing the availability of illicit drugs or the power of criminal organizations.”
Changing the Frame: A New Approach to Drug Policy in Canada
What We Do
- Produce and advance constructive policy recommendations for government and policymakers
- Build sustainable, mutually enhancing partnerships in service of our three key focus areas
- Assemble and disseminate clear information and analysis to counter stigma and change the narrative around people who use drugs
- Foster productive dialogue and action within civil society
Our Three Areas of Work:
- We advocate for legal regulation of the production, contents, and distribution of currently illegal substances to support safety and community well-being.
- Criminalization has not reduced drug use or availability; it has driven a surge in drug poisoning deaths, and it puts millions of dollars into the pockets of organized crime. We advocate for decriminalization as an essential step to ending the harms of prohibition and building better paths forward.
- Our drug laws and policies should uphold the basic human rights of all people, including people who use drugs. This includes the right to life, health, bodily autonomy, adequate standards of living, and liberty and security of the person.
Support Our Work
Join CDPC in building a future where drug policy is grounded in evidence, compassion, and human rights.