BC’s radical change on drug policy: what local experts think

QATHET’S WISDOM ON THE OPIOID CRISIS

BY PIETA WOOLLEY

As of January 31, BC becomes the first jurisdiction in Canada to try decriminalizing the possession of some currently-illicit drugs: small amounts of heroin, fentanyl, crack, crystal meth and ecstasy.

The federal exemption will last for three years.

It’s a high-stakes pilot project, aimed to reduce the harms that can accompany using these drugs.

This fall, BC and Canada announced several new initiatives, restructuring laws and supports for people who are marginalized by addictions and mental health. The announcements include more social housing, an investment in help for chronic pain, more mental health collaboration with police, new treatment beds, introducing repeat offender management teams, Indigenous justice centres, and more.

Some of the changes stem from this fall’s two watershed government reports: A Rapid Investigation into Repeat Offending and Random Stranger Violence in British Columbia (released October 1), and Closing Gaps, Reducing Barriers:

Expanding The Response To The Toxic Drug And Overdose Crisis (released November 1).

qathet has one of the highest drug-related mortality rates in the province – and also, a record of innovative, progressive supports. This region had VCH’s first overdose prevention site outside of Vancouver, a multi-agency, collaborative Community Action Team, a 43-unit supported housing building, and injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment is available here. The region is also home to one private drug, alcohol and trauma treatment centre for men and women – the only one of its kind in Canada, as well as a non-profit addictions treatment centre for men. And much more.

Soon, the region will also have complex care housing and, for the first time, detox beds.

Of course, with the diversity of local experiences on the front-lines of the crisis, there is a diversity of thought about the direction this province is taking.

qathet Living asked several locals what they think of the new direction – and what they’d like to see here to better support people who use drugs. We have featured their feedback in various articles this month.

|| pieta@prliving.ca