B.C. has applied to the federal government to decriminalize simple possession of street drugs in the province.
The move has been discussed for several months amid the ongoing overdose crisis that鈥檚 seen 7,700 people die from toxic drug poisonings since 2016, and worsened through the pandemic.
The first seven months of this year were the deadliest in the province鈥檚 recent history. July was the 17th straight month of more than 100 B.C. residents dying from a toxic drug supply.
B.C. is the first province to seek such an exemption from Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Simple possession is a criminal charge which generally means the drugs are for personal use with no intent to traffic.
If approved, Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson said in an announcement Monday (Nov. 1) that the exemption would help reduce the fear and shame associated with substance use that prevents people from seeking care 鈥� a problem that she says isn鈥檛 a criminal issue.
鈥淏.C. is adding new health and substance-use care services almost weekly, but we know shame prevents many people from accessing life-saving care. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 crucial to decriminalize people who use drugs.鈥�
According to an Angus Reid poll in February, 66 per cent of British Columbians support the application.
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The cities seeing the lions shares of overdose deaths have remained Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria 鈥� but fatality rates continue to also be high in communities such as Keremeos, Nelson and the Cariboo.
Prior to January 2020, when COVID-19 transmission touched down in B.C., the province was seeing a decrease in fatal drug poisonings. Since then, social distancing has forced many to use alone, coupled with an increasingly toxic drug supply wreaking havoc faster than those on the frontlines 鈥� Narcan in hand 鈥� can keep up with.
鈥淏.C. is in the midst of two public health emergencies: COVID-19 and the toxic drug crisis,鈥� said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
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鈥淭he intersection of these two emergencies has produced tragic results. B.C.鈥檚 application to Health Canada to decriminalize people who use drugs is a vital step to keep people alive and help connect them with the health and social support they need.鈥�
The province said in a statement that the application is supported by health and social service providers, Indigenous partners, those with lived experiences and research and advocacy groups.
In 2020, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police announced their support in decriminalizing simple possession, led by the Vancouver Police Department鈥檚 Adam Palmer.
鈥淎rresting individuals for simple position of illicit drugs is ineffective鈥� it does not save lives,鈥� .
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ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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