Police chiefs call for decriminalization of personal possession of illicit drugs

VANCOUVER (660 NEWS) – The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is calling for the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs.

In a report released Thursday, the CAPC recommends all police agencies recognize substance abuse and addiction as a public health issue and calls for the decriminalization to help reduce drug overdoses.

Breaking: Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police calling for the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs

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“Canada continues to grapple with the Fentanyl crisis and a poisoned drug supply that has devastated our communities and taken thousands of lives,” said CACP President Chief Cst. Adam Palmer.

“We recommend that enforcement for possession give way to an integrated health-focused approach that requires partnership between police, health care and all levels of government.”

The group is proposing increased access to health care, treatment and social services to help those struggling with substance abuse avoid committing crimes.

“Bottom line is, addiction issues should best be handled by a health care system, not a criminal justice system,” Palmer said.

On top of that, Bill Bogart, a law professor with the University of Windsor and author has been advocating for it, for a long time.

Bogart said criminalizing someone for simple possession and use only makes the matter worse.

“We’ve got to as I say look at this as treatment issue, not as a criminal one.”

The police chiefs sent a clear message to Ottawa, according to Bogart.

“Look we’ve long supported this notion that we should not be the first-line responders for mental health issues and addiction issues.”

According to the report, people who experience substance use disorder face repercussions, including criminal records, stigma, risk of overdose, and the transmission of blood-borne diseases.

The aim of the police chiefs is to decrease potential harms by removing mandatory criminal sanctions, often replacing them with responses that promote access to harm reduction and treatment services.

“We must adopt new and innovative approaches if we are going to disrupt the current trend of drug overdoses impacting communities across Canada. Merely arresting individuals for simple possession of illicit drugs has proven to be ineffective. Research from other countries who have boldly chosen to take a health-, rather than an enforcement-based approach to problematic drug use have demonstrated positive results,” the report reads.

The CACP said the decriminalization would only apply to those in possession of small or undetermined amounts of illicit drugs for personal use.

A special committee of the police chiefs recommends a national task force be created, with health and justice officials, to research Canadian drug policy reform, specifically reforms to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act related to simple possession, and recommend alternatives to criminal sanctions that promote a health-based diversionary approach.

“Enforcement resources and strategies will continue to be targeted at organized crime groups and individuals who import, produce or distribute illegal drugs throughout our communities,” says the report.

“Frontline officers will always play a critical role in any diversion model. Frequently, they are the point of first contact and the ones who will assist individuals into pathways of care. Finding pathways to care presents the opportunity of reducing the demand for drugs in our communities, as well as the crime associated with problematic substance use.”

READ THE FULL REPORT 

-With files from NEWS 1130.