About Us
SUNAR is a peer-led network of people with lived and living experience of criminalized substance use. We welcome and encourage people who use substances (PWUS) in nine communities across the Atlantic provinces to work together to solve critical issues that PWUS and their communities face.
Inform & Connect
We aim to unite, inform, and open a dialogue between PWUS in Atlantic Canada. We also strive to increase engagement between PWUS and service providers and policy-makers to increase safer use practices, decrease substance use-related stigma and isolation, and increase evidence-informed policies, programs, and practices. The goal of this peer-led, regional network of people with lived experience of substance use is to enhance and save lives.
Real-Time Drug Warnings
Our networks and members provide us with real-time drug warnings about drug poisonings which we distribute widely across the Atlantic Canada region.
Advocacy
PWUS under the guiding frameworks of harm reduction have been central to reducing the health impacts, promoting the rights, and increasing dignity for PWUS. SUNAR is advancing these goals in Atlantic Canada ensuring that PWUS voice and knowledge is the leading voice in the creation of drug policies, and laws that make our communities healthier and safer. PWUS have unique challenges in Atlantic Canada, and we support and enable strong peer voices.
On the Ground
We work with and monetarily compensate 40 peers who are linked across 9-Atlantic cities/towns and are supported by our partner agencies based in those locations. Peers have a monthly local meeting to share harm reduction strategies, peer-based knowledge and assist the local partner communities and PWUD. All the local groups meet virtually monthly to inform and link PWUD across Atlantic Canada.
We also support outreach workers in each community to hit the streets and provide harm reduction education, naloxone, fentanyl, and benzo testing strips to alert to poisonous substances.
We also have a monthly newsletter that includes resources, webinars and recordings.
Media Enquiries
We encourage media to work with us to ensure that PWUS’s voice and stories are central to stories that inform the public about criminalized drug use.
Who we Are
Steve Colwell (they/he) is a Regional Peer Lead with the Substance User Network of the Atlantic Region. They are currently working towards a Master's of Counselling Psychology. They use their lived experience with various mental illnesses, substance use, traumas, and their work as a harm reductionist to advocate for change in our current system. Steve hopes to foster fellowship, unconditional love and radical acceptance to ally with the other and offer empathy and education in the face of stigma.
Caroline Ploem (she/her) works at Direction 180 as SUNAR's Project Coordinator. She plays a key role in the administration of the project and quietly supports staff and members in the background to do what they do best - enhancing and saving the lives of people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) of substance use. She has been involved in community-based work since the 1990s and has focused extensively on HIV and Hepatitis C prevention and support among Canada's most vulnerable populations. Caroline is very passionate about harm reduction, health promotion, mental health, social justice, human rights, and health equity.
Our Partners
Financial Partner
This initiative has been made possible thanks to the financial support of Health Canada. The content, views, thoughts and opinions expressed on this website do not necessarily represent Health Canada’s.