Our principles

As healthcare workers, we are committed to advancing compassionate, equitable, and evidence-informed care that respects the dignity and autonomy of every person. We believe everyone has the right to bodily autonomy, personal choice, and access to a range of care and treatment options that reflect their individual needs and circumstances. We centre patients and communities in decisions about their health and healing, recognizing the expertise and leadership of people with lived experience. Our work is guided by peer-reviewed research, evidence-informed practice, and a range of quantitative and qualitative sources, including high-quality grey literature.

We believe healthcare is a public good and are committed to protecting and strengthening publicly funded healthcare systems. We advocate for investing in existing public institutions and services, ensuring resources are directed toward meeting community needs and preventing avoidable deaths and harms, both now and for future generations.

We acknowledge that substance use is shaped by broader social and structural factors, including poverty, housing insecurity, colonization, criminalization, mental health, trauma, and discrimination. We are committed to challenging the systemic inequities that contribute to harm, including addressing the ongoing impacts of colonialism and racial discrimination within drug policy and healthcare. We affirm the right of Indigenous communities to determine their own healthcare needs and set priorities.

We recognize that every community has unique needs and strengths, and that effective solutions must be shaped by the people most affected, united by our shared values. Through collaboration, accountability, and respect for lived experience, we strive to build a healthcare system that is accessible, responsive, and grounded in the needs and rights of the people and communities it serves.