About the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) is a group of users and former users who work to improve the lives of people who use illicit drugs through user-based peer support and education. In response to epidemic rates of HIV/AIDS infection and general social unrest in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, VANDU formed in January 1998 to address issues of poverty, social exclusion, criminalization, and ancillary illness from the ground up.

VANDU is now funded by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA) as part of its harm reduction strategy. Since 1998, VANDU’s membership has grown to over 2000 strong, making it the largest organization of its kind in the world.

For more information about VANDU, check out their website at: vandu.org

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