Cactus extends its roots

Since its creation, Cactus Montréal develops and maintains constant relations with surrounding communities. By listening to residents and merchants worried by drug consumption, Cactus succeeds, through better understanding and concrete actions, to reduce the stigmatisation of the persons who use drugs as well as the irritating factors which affect close residents.

Besides the pick-up rounds performed several times a week, Cactus organises a yearly recuperation blitz aimed at reducing the number of syringes and other soiled prevention materials discarded in the environment.

Cactus also collaborates with organisations related to its sector of activity by actively participating in various committees, specialised tables or workgroups including:

• La table des résidents du Faubourgs Saint-Laurent;
• La table jeunesse/itinérance de Montréal;
• Le RAPSIM (Réseau d'Aide aux Personnes Seules et Itinérantes de Montréal);
• Le comité intersectoriel sur les seringues à la traîne;
• Les rencontres de l'Association des Travailleurs et Travailleuses de rue du Québec (ATTRuQ);
• Alerte Centre-Sud;
• COCQ Sida;
• Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

On another level, Cactus denounces the structural problems that worsen the precarious conditions of people. In this way, Cactus organises evening information sessions and debates on the social and political impacts of drugs and the persons who use intravenous drugs (IDU) to ensure that all of these people can live in dignity.