The provincial government is proposing changes to its drug decriminalization pilot project, but a New Westminster city councillor wants the “failed decriminalization experiment” to be scrapped altogether.
At the same time, a local service provider stresses that creating and implementing a vision for addressing the toxic drug crisis is a long-term affair and cannot be “the flavour of the month” among politicians.
What’s happening?
In January 2023, British Columbia began a three-year drug decriminalization pilot project that allowed adult drug users to carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy for personal using without facing criminal charges.
The pilot project took effect after the federal government provided B.C. with an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
In response to concerns raised about some aspects of the pilot project, the provincial government announced on April 25, 2024 that it is now working with the federal government to amend the rules of the pilot project.
The changes being proposed would not recriminalize drug possession in private residences or places where someone is legally sheltering, or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations – but they would give police the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches.
Failed experiment?
In New Westminster, Coun. Daniel Fontaine has presented council with a notice of motion asking the BC government to terminate “the failed decriminalization experiment.”
The motion states that B.C.’s drug decriminalization pilot project has failed, and negative impacts are being felt across the province. It goes on to say that an adequate level of services, such as drug treatment, rehabilitation, mental health and supportive housing, should have been put in place prior to a “decriminalization experiment” being undertaken.
Stating that “this experiment is not easing the suffering nor reducing the deaths of people with addictions” and noting that the State of Oregon recently “reversed course” on a similar experiment, Fontaine is proposing the mayor write to the premier and the minister of mental health and addictions (who is New Westminster MLA Jennifer Whiteside) requesting they immediately halt the pilot project in B.C.
Fontaine’s notice of motion is included on the May 6 council agenda, but it won’t be considered until the following meeting, as per the city’s practice.
Opposition to pilot project
Before the province made its announcement about proposed changes to the pilot project, Fontaine had joined Surrey councillor Linda Annis and Richmond councillor Alexa Loo in calling on the province to end the “deadly decriminalization experiment” and to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.
In a news release, the trio of municipal politicians said they would be bringing notices of motion to their respective councils to call on the provincial government to follow the lead of Oregon, which has decided to end decriminalization.
“The experiment in Oregon failed, and it’s clear that B.C.’s experiment, which has Ottawa's approval, has also failed,” Fontaine said in the news release. “Why should British Columbia continue with this deadly experiment, rather than learning from Oregon?”
Fontaine believes B.C. should reverse decriminalization and put its emphasis on treatment, rehabilitation, and a continuum of care, rather than serving up more drugs as a solution.
Pilot project changes
The province has introduced changes to its drug decriminalization pilot project that are focused on providing police with more tools to address public safety – while offering support and access to treatment for people living with addictions.
"Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe," Premier David Eby said in a news release. "We're taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better."
Although the changes are intended to provide police with the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, the province said “guidance will be given” to police to only arrest for simple possession of illicit drugs in exceptional circumstances, such as when police are called to a scene where illegal and dangerous drug use is taking place.
In a statement to the Record, Fontaine said the move by the province to “water down their current decriminalization experiment” is welcomed but will likely have little impact on street disorder. He said it’s disappointing that no significant investments were announced to expand services to help people get off drugs.
“What we have now remains a one-pillar approach that clearly doesn’t place an equal emphasis on the four pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement,” he said. “Deadly illicit drugs remain legal, their use remains legal, and treatment continues to remain an afterthought.”
The province, however, maintains that it is also expanding access to treatment for people struggling with addiction, including those who are most at risk of overdose by:
- increasing the availability and accessibility of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT), a medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid-use disorder, by implementing a provincewide virtual system.
- integrating addictions services with health care, housing and related services.
- working with experts to develop methods to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of identifying and preventing diversion.
"People across the country are dying from poisoned drugs, and B.C. is no exception," Whiteside said in a news release. "Addiction is a health-care issue, not a criminal one, and we're going to keep doing everything we can to save lives and connect people to treatment."
In its news release, the provincial government stated it has opened 600 publicly funded substance-use treatment beds throughout B.C. since 2017. It said there are currently 50 overdose prevention sites around the province, with 24 of these sites providing inhalation services.
Municipal conversations
Some New Westminster city council members attended the Lower Mainland Local Government Association conference in Whistler from May 1 to 3.
At the conference, Coun. Nadine Nakagawa spoke about harm reduction. In an email to the Record, she commented on the province’s pilot project.
“The goal of decriminalization was to move the crisis from a policing issue to a health-care issue. The provincial government has yet to provide adequate healthcare and housing, which would actually get to the root of the problem,” she said. “Rather than a knee-jerk reaction that further stigmatizes vulnerable members of our community and offers nothing in terms of solutions, we need more to advocate for compassionate response that is based in actual evidence.”
Drug policy: It can’t be a “flavour of the month” approach
New Westminster is considered by some folks to be the “recovery capital” of British Columbia, as it’s home to several recovery programs and the annual Recovery Day Festival.
New West is also home to many social services agencies that provide programs and outreach to people with addictions. That includes the Lower Mainland Purpose Society, which operates the city’s safe consumption site and offers a variety of programs and services.
The Record contacted Lynda Fletcher-Gordon, acting executive director of the Purpose Society, for her thoughts on the pilot project.
“For whatever reasons, when the decriminalization of drugs pilot project was rolled out, it was a lot like the ‘Four Pillar Approach’ taken to substance use that was implemented many, many years ago. Back then, the only ‘pillar’ that was fully implemented was harm reduction, and we happily went down that road full throttle,” she said. “Enforcement, education and treatment were given very little attention compared to attention given to harm reduction.”
Fletcher-Gordon said the recent decriminalization of drugs should have been accompanied by the establishment of ancillary services such as easily accessed treatment and mental health services.
“In addition, if you do not want to see people use drugs in public – which they are told to do by health-care providers so that they do not die alone – there should have been more safe consumption sites established and, in every neighbourhood,” she said. “We have seen the response to trying to establish new sites in places like Richmond.”
Every week, the toxic drugs are morphing into new combinations that we cannot keep up with, Fletcher-Gordon said.
“The majority of people are now inhaling their drugs rather than injecting. This is creating more challenges as there are very few inhalation sites across the province,” she said. “In spite of the fact that we know that this shift in how drugs are used is happening and it is affecting how we should be doing things, actions to address this situation are slow. We now need indoor safe inhalation sites.”
Fletcher-Gordon said the politicization of a health issue (the use of drugs, treatment, access to other services) only detracts from what is required to address the toxic drug situation.
“We need to create a vision for the future that will reduce drug use, educate folks as to the harms caused by the abuse of drugs, provide treatment for those folks who are seeking it and ensure that folks who continue to use have access to safe drugs,” she said.
Fletcher-Gordon said the complete model needs to be funded – and constantly evaluated and monitored.
“The model needs to include transitional supported housing, longer-term housing, and access to education, and training,” she said. “Creating and implementing a vision for addressing our toxic drug crisis is a long-term affair. It cannot be ‘the flavour of the month’ buffeted about by politicos who may be worried about getting elected or who take sides for political gain, rather than addressing the issues objectively. It will cost money, lots of money, but it will also save lives.”
