Pubdate: Sat, 11 May 2002
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2002, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Victor Malarek

PLAN FLOATED TO IGNORE SOME PRISON DRUG USE

The Correctional Service of Canada has put together a proposal to turn a 
blind eye to some positive tests for marijuana and hashish use among 
prisoners and offenders released in the community, The Globe and Mail has 
learned.

The correctional service, which has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and 
alcohol, would continue to test for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active 
ingredient in marijuana. But it would act on positive tests only when the 
drug use is considered to be a problem for an offender and there is concern 
about increased criminal risk. The proposal might, for example, lead to 
fewer people returned in prison for using marijuana after their release, 
and fewer disciplinary measures against prisoners who test positive.

The paper describes THC as a soft drug that sedates prisoners, reduces 
their propensity for violence and does not impair cognitive function and 
perception as other drugs and alcohol do. It says THC use does not lead to 
dependence, has few side effects, even with heavy use, and is not a gateway 
to more serious drugs such as cocaine and heroin. It also says there is 
only a weak relationship between THC and criminal activity.

But the discussion paper also notes that THC is still illegal in Canada, 
that the correctional service might be perceived as condoning the use of an 
illegal substance, and that ending THC testing entirely might be political 
untenable for the service and the federal government. And it says offenders 
have to come into contact with other criminals to get marijuana and hashish 
and not testing for it might increase its use in prisons and enhance the 
illicit drug trade inside the institutions, which often includes violence 
and strong-arm tactics.

The proposal is among a number of ideas circulated in a recent discussion 
paper aimed at overhauling drug testing of prisoners and offenders on release.

The union representing prison guards says the proposals are a blatant 
attempt to hide the rampant drug problem in federal penitentiaries.

The discussion paper notes that removing THC from drug tests would cut the 
rate of positive tests by half.

And it says drug use by offenders has been rising -- the rate of positive 
tests increased by about 20 per cent over the past five years, and more 
offenders refused to be tested, meaning illegal drug use is even greater 
than urine testing suggests.

The document, called Proposed Modifications to Urinalysis Program, was sent 
to wardens, deputy wardens and district directors for comment by Jan. 18 of 
this year. "A non-response by the end of the 18th will be regarded as 
agreement with the proposed changes," says an internal correctional service 
e-mail dated Dec. 28.

Sylvain Martel, national president of the Canadian Union of Correctional 
Officers, said the correctional service is trying to hide the drug problem 
and save money by not doing tests.

"This is a manipulation of the statistics and one way to make the situation 
look good is to drop testing for marijuana and hashish," he said. "We have 
a serious drug-abuse problem in the penitentiaries, a big-time problem, and 
the union is totally against this."

The union leader said the proposal makes a mockery of the CSC's stated 
zero-tolerance policy and brings into question the rehabilitation process 
for inmates.

"If an inmate tests positive, then he's not following his rehabilitation 
plan and that whole process just goes out the window if the CSC says we're 
not testing for THC any more."

During 2000-2001, the corrections service spent about $600,000 on 
urinalysis of prisoners and another $1.55-million testing offenders on 
release in the community.

The corrections-service document criticizes outside testing because 
parolees know in advance when they are to be tested. It says there are no 
surprise tests because of "practical reasons" such as the availability and 
schedule of the contractor who collects samples.

"Clearly this is a serious problem given that offenders are aware of when 
they will be tested and is a poor usage of urinalysis resources in the 
community. Hence, the approach does little, if anything, to monitor and 
deter offender drug use in the community and requires major revision."

The proposals suggests dropping fixed-interval testing on the outside in 
favour of letting parole officers decide when to have an offender tested.

This approach would lead to a 60- to 70-per-cent decrease in the number of 
urine samples collected.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens