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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom