Ann Livingston has spent decades helping drug user groups organize. In the 1990s, she helped co-found the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, and is currently working with the Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users (NANDU).
“ A drug user group in the simplest mission statement is to improve the lives of people who have not been successful at stopping using drugs through user to user advocacy, education and support,” Livingston said.
“And we do it with a weekly meeting and we’re a registered nonprofit society, so we follow the Society’s Act and have an annual general meeting where the board of directors is elected.”
NANDU is getting ready to co-host its first author talk, in partnership with the Vancouver Island Regional Library and Moms Stop the Harm. The groups are set to welcome Crackdown podcast host Garth Mullins to the Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Harbourfront Branch to speak about his memoir, also called Crackdown.
In the book, Mullins shares his experiences including childhood abuse, substance use during his youth, heroin use, a stint in jail in the U.S., his journey towards being enrolled in a methadone program in B.C., and work advocating for drug policy changes.
“ I love the way that [Mullins] tells his story,” Livingston said.
She says she’s hoping people with a variety of backgrounds and opinions on the issues discussed turn out to the event.
“ We want a wider discussion. If you just have people who are involved in harm reduction, talking to other people involved in harm reduction, it’s not gonna work out,” she said.
“ We hope city councillors will come. We hope business improvement associations…politicians, they should just come and listen… if you hate drug users, come, if you love drug users, come, let’s have this real discussion.”
The event is scheduled for Tuesday April 7, at 3:30, more info can be found on the event page on library’s website here: https://virl.bc.ca/event/garth-mullins-author-talk/
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