A local harm reduction advocate says handing out illegal street drugs to known users was an act of compassion as much as it was a statement in support of a safe supply of drugs, amid soaring overdose and poisoning deaths in the area.

Dylan Griffith, founder of Kootenay Insurrection for Safe Supply, told KCR News that his organization received six grams of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin from the Vancouver-based Drug User Liberation Front (DULF).

“They were bought off the dark web from criminal networks,” Griffith told KCR during a vigil for victims of the toxic drug crisis earlier this week.

"We don't want to do that, but there is no safe supply in B.C, and the government is leaving us no choice."

Listen to an interview with Dylan Griffith here:

14 other community organizations in the province received a similar package for distribution to users. 

The next step, according to Griffith, is to establish a so-called Compassion Club in the Kootenays and to continue distributing a tested supply of drugs to users. In late July, Health Canada rejected an application from DULF to establish a similar concept in Vancouver. DULF has said it will appeal the decision.

Listen to a report from the overdose vigil from KCR News reporter John Rune: