British Columbia’s NDP has called on the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province’s approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Officials on Friday called for updating BC’s exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, seeking greater power for police to crack down on drug use in almost any public place, including parks and buses.
At a news conference, Premier David Eby stressed that the goal of the province’s decriminalization pilot program – reducing the stigma around drug use and encouraging people with substance abuse problems to seek help – remains a priority for his government, despite the drastic narrowing of focus.
“Our goal was to save lives,” Eby said. “But that compassion, that concern for people who are struggling doesn’t mean anything goes.”
The prime minister said he has already discussed the request with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and has been assured the federal government will support the changes.
British Columbia residents will continue to be allowed to possess small amounts of hard drugs, with exceptions allowing people to use illicit substances in private homes, legal shelters and overdose prevention sites.
But police could force drug users to leave public areas, and also confiscate their drugs and arrest them, at officers’ discretion.
In a press release, the Ministry of Public Security and the Attorney General said that police will be instructed to “only arrest for simple possession of illicit drugs in exceptional circumstances.”
“There’s no doubt that criminalizing drug use costs us all,” Eby said. “It costs threats to lives, it costs money for prosecutions and it doesn’t make us safer. But police need the tools to address extraordinary circumstances where people compromise public safety through drug use.”
Ban drug use in hospitals
The province also announced plans to address concerns raised by some health professionals, including the BC Nurses Union, about drug use in hospital settings.
Going forward, Eby said there will be “no tolerance” for illicit drugs in hospitals outside of “medically supervised addiction treatment areas.”
Hospital staff will not look for drugs on patients, but rather will seek cooperation and stockpile substances for users who agree to voluntarily surrender them.
“It’s important to recognize that a number of patients in our hospitals come there struggling with serious addiction issues. They need medical care just like everyone else,” Eby said. “This does not mean that we compromise the safety of healthcare professionals or other patients in the hospital.”
The BCNU issued a statement following the announcement calling the updated approach a “positive first step in addressing the complex issue of addiction management.”
“It is imperative that the occupational health and safety of nurses, healthcare staff and patients remains a top priority for the government and healthcare employers, while meeting the needs of people struggling with addiction,” the statement says, adding that the union “continues to work to advocate for harm reduction measures.”
Ongoing legal challenge
Last fall, the NDP introduced legislation to restrict drug use in certain public areas, including playgrounds, but the law was quickly questioned by the Harm Reduction Nurses Association over fears it would lead to more drug users. drug addicts to consume their substances alone indoors, putting them at great risk. increased risk of dying from overdose.
In December, the British Columbia Supreme Court granted an injunction against the legislation, which was then upheld by the British Columbia Court of Appeal last month.
Health Canada’s updated exemption requested Friday would appear to sidestep that court challenge, while going well beyond provincial legislation in terms of restricting public drug use.
“Resolution of that court matter is potentially more than a year away and we cannot afford to wait. We need to act now,” Eby said.
Officials also promised new resources for people struggling with addiction, including a virtual clinic for those seeking opioid agonist therapies, such as methadone, to help them quit illicit drugs.
The program will be available in pharmacies across the province, reducing treatment barriers for people in smaller communities with fewer resources, Eby said.