Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007
Source: Uniter, The (CN MB Edu)
Copyright: 2007 The Uniter
Contact:  http://www.uniter.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4407
Author: Cameron MacLean
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

CANADA'S DRUG STRATEGY A FAILURE, REPORT CLAIMS

Canada's drug strategy has failed to reduce many of the most deadly 
consequences associated with illicit drug use, according to a new 
report published by the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

The report, published in the HIV/AIDS Policy and Law Review, 
critiques the Federally-funded drug strategy renewed in 2003. The 
authors conclude that the strategy has focused overwhelmingly on 
anti-drug enforcement and supply-reduction initiatives, which the 
authors claim have failed to reduce the availability of and demand 
for illegal drugs, and which, in many cases, exacerbate drug-related 
harms. At the same time, Canada's drug strategy has neglected new and 
innovative harm-reduction methods, such as needle exchange programs 
and Vancouver's safe-injection site, which have proven to be 
effective. The report goes on to argue that there is a lack of 
leadership, coordination, accountability, and clearly defined targets 
and goals against which the effectiveness of the strategy could be measured.

According to the report, in the first half of 2005, "over 20 per cent 
of newly recorded HIV infections in Canada were associated with 
injection drug use." Of these, it is believed that a large percentage 
of new infections are acquired in prison. Aboriginal people appear to 
be particularly affected.

In addition to the health risks associated with drug use, 
drug-related harms present a considerable economic burden to 
Canadians. In 2002, national health care costs directly related to 
illicit drug use were estimated to be over $1.13 billion. Also, sick 
days taken as a result of illicit drug use are estimated to have cost 
$21 million in lost income in that same year.

Again in 2002, policing costs and correctional services costs 
associated with illicit drug use combined are estimated to have 
totaled over $2 billion. Despite these efforts, drug consumption 
rates in 2002 were found to have been higher than ever recorded. 
Rather than reducing the supply and demand for illegal drugs, the 
authors argue that anti-drug enforcement activities increase many of 
the harms associated with drug use by destabilizing markets, leading 
to increased levels of violence and unsafe injection practices. 
Destabilized markets also disperse drug scenes, further separating 
drug users from health and prevention services.

Multiple reports from the Auditor General of Canada (2001), the 
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs (2002), and Special 
Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs (2002) have called for greater 
coordination of efforts to address problems related with substance 
abuse, and for better accounting and responsibility.

In spite of all this, in 2004-2005, 73 per cent of actual Federal 
drug strategy expenditures went to enforcement tactics. The remaining 
27 per cent was divided up between treatment (14 per cent), 
coordination and research (7 per cent), prevention (3 per cent), and 
harm-reduction (3 per cent). The Federal government refused to extend 
Vancouver's safe injection site --- the only one in North America --- 
beyond its initial pilot phase, claiming that there is a lack of 
understanding around the impacts of the facility. Needle exchanges 
are only available in 14 communities in British Columbia. 
Furthermore, no reports or evaluations of the effectiveness of the 
strategy have been made available. Addictions Foundation of Manitoba 
CEO John Borody agreed with the author's conclusions. He said that 
the emphasis on enforcement methods of combating drug use in Canada 
follows the focus of many international policy leaders out of the 
United States and the United Nations. He also stated that term 
lengths for most governments have an influence on the kinds of 
measures governments are willing to take in dealing with drug related problems.

"When you look at governments and how long they're in power, they're 
trying to have an impact on this within the time they're in power, 
which is usually in four-year stints. And when you're talking about 
prevention activity, you're talking about a longer-term strategy. You 
might not see dramatic changes in four years."

The AFM, which operates a needle exchange program on Sherbrook Street 
across from the Misericordia Urgent Care Centre, takes a 
harm-reduction perspective, Borody said.

"I think one of the good things about (Canada's drug strategy) is 
that it started a national discussion around what they call the 
framework of that strategy, and it brought a lot of us together to 
start looking at how we can be a part of this, which they never had 
before," Borody said. He went on to say that where the Federal 
government can help now is in the area of leadership, by setting the 
overall direction for dealing with drug related issues. He also said 
that the Federal government should make more resources available to 
the provinces to develop local strategies for dealing with illicit drug use.

In the words of the report's own authors: "Canada's Drug Strategy's 
stated overarching goal is to reduce harms associated with substance 
use, yet the strategy makes no provisions to ensure availability of 
key services, such as needle exchange, on a country-wide basis."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine