About

Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (WAHRS)

westernaboriginalharmreductionsociety
WAHRS is a group that first started in 2002 as a subgroup of VANDU. The idea was first thought up by the current WAHRS president, Chris Livingstone, who recognized the need for an all-aboriginal group run by and decisions made by aboriginal people.

Statistics have shown that in the downtown eastside area that the epidemics (HepC, HIV/AIDS) have hit the native population harder than any other ethnic group. Alcoholism is another major problem amongst the aboriginals as well, not only with hard liquor and beer but with rubbing alcohol, mouthwash and Lysol to name a few, and this is causing a lot more health problems as well as mental health related difficulties.

WAHRS has recognized another problem in this area and that is a need for warm and proper footwear. Shoes and boots can be expensive for persons on limited incomes to purchase; or to have people donate. Socks are inexpensive and not so hard to donate, so this prompted the board of directors of WAHRS to agree on canvassing several companies and organizations for funding or donations of socks to give to the people as they are in need, especially in the winter months (the rainy season in Vancouver). Wet feet can lead to a number of foot problems that could later get much, much worse.

Another of WAHRS initiatives is an alcohol maintenance program. Because of the deadly effects that rubbing alcohol and mouthwash have on a person’s system, WAHRS has said that it needed to help the persons drinking this poison by not letting them go ‘cold turkey’ but by weaning them off by substituting beer. Once they are on this maintenance program, the next step would be a detox or a treatment centre. These initiatives are what this community needs to better the lives of people here, the sicker the people are the more taxing it gets on the entire health system, and it’s dollars which is actually is the average Joe’s tax dollars.

Although WAHRS is a group of aboriginals trying to help themselves and the people of their community, progress is slow as funding and donations are in short supply.