Pubdate: Sat, 31 Mar 2012
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2012 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Referenced: Improving community health and safety in Canada through 
evidence-based policies on illegal drugs: 
http://www.openmedicine.ca/article/view/501/455

TIME TO ADOPT SMART STRATEGY

What once was considered a distant rumble from the fringes in calling 
for the decriminalization of "soft drugs" has increasingly grown into 
a cacophony of voices from legal, health, social and governmental 
groups calling for even more widespread measures to address the 
growing drug problem.

And to all but a handful of conservative diehards, that problem is 
closely associated with the adoption of increasingly harsh criminal 
prohibitions despite a three-decade record of failure.

Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, Dr. Moira McKinnon, 
added her voice of reason to the debate this week. Along with her 
counterparts in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and Evan Wood, 
co-director of the urban health research initiative at the B.C. 
Centre for Excellence in HIV/ AIDS, Dr. McKinnon authored a piece in 
the journal Open Medicine calling for an urgent, informed debate by 
policymakers about the need to draft drug policy using scientific evidence.

And that evidence is clear. The doctors point out that the current 
strategy of using harsh penalties and banal antidrug advertisements 
to discourage drug use has failed in every jurisdiction that tried 
them. Worse, not only do they fail to reduce the abuse of narcotics, 
but they contribute to a wide range of social, medical, and criminal 
problems that tap government treasuries and crowd provincial and federal jails.

The journal editorial follows a number of recent public appeals for 
reason from people who once were fully on board with the war on 
drugs. Just weeks ago, four former British Columbian attorneys 
general wrote an op-ed that called for a change in federal policy. 
Just prior to that, four former Vancouver mayors added their voice of reason.

And last month, more than two dozen current and former American 
judges, prosecutors, police officers, special agents and drug 
investigators issued a public warning to the Canadian government that 
U.S. experience shows that a "tough on crime" anti-drug strategy is 
doomed to fail.

The federal justice minister has been deaf to it all, insisting he 
has "no intention to decriminalize or legalize" drugs but is 
determined to "ensure criminals are held fully accountable for their 
actions." Just as distressing - considering that the bulk of the cost 
of this failed strategy is borne by provincial treasuries - Canada's 
week-kneed premiers and territorial leaders, and provincial justice 
ministers are mum on the issue.

The doctors point out, however, that this strategy of closed eyes, 
closed ears, and closed minds may not long be sustainable. Canada is 
now way behind the curve in adopting evidence-based strategies, such 
as expanding access to medical and non-medical withdrawal programs, 
programs to manage concurrent mental health problems and addictions, 
ambulatory and residential treatment programs, and opioid 
substitution therapies. They also suggest doctors be allowed to 
prescribe heroin to addicts.

A small but growing majority of Canadians want to see this kind of 
change, the doctors say. Politicians will have to eventually get on side.

One would hope this is an area where Saskatchewan can lead the way.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom