Pubdate: Thu, 10 Aug 2017
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2017 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Kristy Kirkup
Page: S2

B.C. OFFICIALS EYE PORTUGAL'S DRUG POLICY

Canadian health authorities, including the province's health officer,
say European country's model could help combat opioid crisis

Canadian health-care experts, including British Columbia's provincial
health officer, want the federal government to strongly consider
Portugal's approach to drug policy, including the decriminalization of
personal possession.

Portugal's model could benefit British Columbia, Perry Kendall said,
noting his province has seen increased overdose deaths from illicitly
produced fentanyl - a problem moving across Canada.

Portugal did not decriminalize all drugs in all circumstances, he
said, noting the country's approach removes the application of
criminal law on personal possession for limited amounts while offering
education and social supports.

"A lot of my colleagues have made recommendations that we should
really look more closely at Portugal … to see if there might be a
better, more productive way of addressing publicsafety issues and
particularly … destigmatizing drug use," Dr. Kendall said in an
interview with The Canadian Press.

"I think it is incumbent upon us, if we are really serious about
trying to deal with this epidemic which is actually killing people,
then we need to look at these alternative, regulatory frameworks to
see if they might work for us."

He said it would be up to Ottawa to shift its approach, because the
Controlled Drugsand Substances Act is a federal law.

He pointed out that much time and resources are currently spent
chasing people around the court system, but this doesn't curb the drug
supply, nor does it stop people from dying.

Last week, B.C.'s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, reported 780 overdose
fatalities between January and June - up from 414 during the same
period last year. Fentanyl was detected in nearly 80 per cent of
deaths between January and May. The federal government is also showing
interest in Portugal's policy.

Late last month, Health Minister Jane Philpott and Justice Minister
Jody Wilson-Raybould travelled to the country along with Canada's
chief public health officer, Theresa Tam, to learn more about the
Portuguese approach to drugs.

Portugal can teach Canada a "great deal" about how taking a
public-health approach to drug policy helps the justice system work
better, Ms. Wilson-Raybould said in a statement.

"What I saw and heard from our Portuguese hosts during our time here
will provide valuable input as we continue our government's review of
Canada's criminal-justice system," she said.

The ministers also attended a presentation on data collection by the
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Dr.
Philpott's press secretary, Andrew MacKendrick, said. He said they
also heard about Portugal's use of a commission designed to divert
people with substance-abuse issues away from the judicial system.

NDP justice critic Alistair MacGregor, a B.C. MP, said he was pleased
to see the ministers head to Portugal and he hopes Parliament will
discuss whether Portugal's model could be a good fit for Canada.

The country has been able to drastically improve its situation since
it decriminalized personal possession of drugs in 2001, he added,
noting the approach allowed people to "come out of the shadows" and
seek help.

"Obviously, something is working in Portugal," he said. "I think if we
are serious about tackling this opioid crisis, which is ravaging my
province currently, we need new approaches, because to continue the
same old model has been an obvious failure by any measure."

Donald MacPherson, executive director of the Canadian Drug Policy
Coalition, agrees all parties in the House of Commons need to consider
a range of options, including Portugal's approach, to address the
depth of the opioid crisis.

"It is a real disaster," he said. "They are fully justified in trying
new, innovative programs."

To that end, the government should consider the creation of drug
supply outside the black market, Mr. MacPherson added, noting the
illicit supply of fentanyl is creeping across the country.

"In immediate term, that is the only way we are going to have a
significant impact on the overdose rates," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt