(Vancouver) A coalition of eight organizations denounces Canada’s “devastating” drug policy, which they say will do more harm than good in tackling the country’s illicit drug overdose crisis.
In a joint letter sent Monday to three federal ministers, the agencies harshly criticized Canada’s drug policy, calling it “punitive” and “coercive.” They urge Ottawa to “issue a public statement denouncing all forms” of involuntary treatment for drug addicts across Canada.
Corey Ranger, president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, one of the organizations co-signing the letter, said in an interview that while programs like mandatory treatment for overdose patients violate individual rights, their effectiveness is everything. so worrying.
Mr Ranger, who has treated many drug users in his career, believes that involuntary care and punitive approaches “just don’t work”. However, according to him, this is one of the most important factors to consider when implementing a public policy: its real effectiveness.
Instead, Ranger said, mandatory treatment breaks users’ relationship of trust with healthcare workers and street workers. This mistrust leads to isolation when individuals need to seek support and care, explains the nurse.
Also, he says, those being treated for their addiction may have had their tolerance artificially lowered in the process, leading to more cases of relapse and overdose later on.
Signatories to the letter claim that the supply of illicit and unregulated drugs was killing an average of 20 Canadians a day.
The open letter was written and signed by the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, the HIV Legal Network, the Association of Harm Reduction Nurses, the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy”, “Moms Stop The Harm”, “Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy” and the “Thunderbird Partnership Foundation.
“Support. Do not punish. »
These organizations decided to publish their letter on Monday because it coincides with the international day “Support. Don’t Punish”, usually used by government agencies to showcase their achievements in illicit drug control.
Ranger said the goal was to “change the rhetoric” and regain the upper hand for advocates of harm reduction and other non-punitive policies such as safe sourcing. He argues that those requests had been hampered in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to urging the federal government to issue a statement against involuntary or coercive treatment of drug use, the agencies are also asking officials to meet with responders on the ground and those affected — including, of course, drug users.
The letter also calls for the repeal of “punitive” laws that criminalize drug users.
“We have seen the devastating effects of over a century of drug prohibition and criminalization. It hasn’t stopped people from using drugs, but it has fostered stigma, racism, classism, discrimination, cartel activity, gun violence and a deadly toxic drug supply that kills 20 people every day in Canada,” said Nick Boyce, senior policy analyst for the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.
Beeta Senedjani, also of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, said she is hearing more and more criticism of non-punitive drug policies, such as safe supply and support programs.
She said she sees such criticism as “scapegoating” and that governments need to step up financial support for housing, frontline harm reduction workers and food security, to tackle the root causes. social problems that critics associate with drug use.
“What we really need to do is invest in things that people need to support themselves,” she said. This is the result of decades and decades of underfunding in this area […] and the current approach does not work. »
In British Columbia, data from the coroners’ service earlier this month indicated that the death toll from illicit drug overdoses in that province has already topped 1,000, just five months into 2023.
In addition to the eight organizations that co-authored the letter, 79 national and international organizations also endorsed the missive addressed to the federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, the Attorney General, David Lametti, and the Minister of Mental Health, Carolyn Bennett.