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Author: Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

  • Changes to drug supply, access to services and resulting health harms

    Changes to drug supply, access to services and resulting health harms

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    “This alert is based on information collected by the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) between March 31 and May 10, 2020. It focuses on the impact of containment efforts related to COVID-19 on the illegal drug supply and access to services, and the associated health harms. Although there were limited data sensitive to these changes collected systematically, there was a convergence of reports from multiple sources in several regions across Canada, so that CCSA and CCENDU judged it better to share imperfect, timely information than no information.”

    Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

  • Drug decriminalization as a necessary response to COVID-19

    Drug decriminalization as a necessary response to COVID-19

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    “The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed stark health inequities and the many structural factors that increase people’s vulnerability to the virus. People who use drugs, and particularly those who are homeless or precariously housed, are more likely to have chronic health issues that will increase their risk of experiencing severe complications should they contract COVID-19. To minimize the risk of transmission and other drug-related health risks, public health officials have urged people who use drugs to continue using harm reduction services, including overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites.

    Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced many harm reduction sites across the country to close or reduce the scope of their services, and people who use drugs are navigating new gaps not only in the drug supply chain but also in the resources and supports they rely on, increasing their risk of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection, overdose, and other harms to their health. Moreover, it is well established that continued police enforcement of simple drug possession laws and the attendant fear of arrest pushes people who use drugs to do so in isolation and compromises their ability to take critical safety precautions. This includes by deterring access to harm reduction services, to which people who use drugs cannot legally travel while in possession of the substances they wish to use there.”

  • A Quiet Revolution: Drug Decriminalisation Across the Globe

    A Quiet Revolution: Drug Decriminalisation Across the Globe

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    “Many countries continue to incarcerate and criminalise people for possession or use of drugs, with criminalisation alone undermining employment, education and housing opportunities. In addition, many people who use drugs are often subject to human rights abuses by the state in jurisdictions which continue to criminalise them. The continued targeting of this group has not only a negative impact on the individuals in question, but their families and broader society as a whole.

    The aim of this report is to inform the public and policymakers alike on the impact of decriminalising drug possession offences, showing that decriminalisation does not lead to increased rates of use while equally demonstrating that law enforcement led approaches have little impact on this metric. Rather, the decision to end the criminalisation of people who use drugs can negate the harms highlighted above when done effectively and produce positive social, health and economic outcomes, not just for the individual, but for society as a whole.”

    Source: Release, Drugs The Law & Human Rights

  • COVID-19 and the drug supply chain: from production and trafficking to use

    COVID-19 and the drug supply chain: from production and trafficking to use

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    “The COVID-19 crisis is taking its toll on the global economy, public health and our way of life. The virus has now infected more than 3.6 million people worldwide, killed 250,000 and led Governments to take drastic measures to limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. Roughly half of the global population is living under mobility restrictions, international border crossings have been closed and economic activity has declined drastically, as many countries have opted for the closure of non- essential businesses.

    Drug trafficking relies heavily on legal trade to camouflage its activities and on individuals being able to distribute drugs to consumers. The measures implemented by Governments to counter the COVID- 19 pandemic have thus inevitably affected all aspects of the illegal drug markets, from the production and trafficking of drugs to their consumption.”

    Source: United Nations Office and Drugs and Crime

  • Strategies for a gender-inclusive response to COVID-19

    Strategies for a gender-inclusive response to COVID-19

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    “Public health strategies aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, including physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and self-isolation, impact all of us, and in particular, the marginalized communities that we work with. As we continue to work with community stakeholders to integrate these strategies, it is important to also integrate strategies that address the existing social determinants of health that impact WHAI’s priority populations of women (women living with HIV, African, Caribbean and Black [ACB] women including newcomers, Indigenous women, Trans women, women who use substances, women who experience violence, and women who are or have been incarcerated). Below are some considerations that have arisen to date.”

    Source: Women & HIV/AIDS Initiative

  • How to make cloth face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19

    How to make cloth face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19

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    “CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

    CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”

    Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)

  • COVID-19 Stimulant Use and Harm Reduction

    COVID-19 Stimulant Use and Harm Reduction

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    “The following is a non-exhaustive tip sheet for stimulant-preferring or polydrug users, focusing on amphetamines, cocaine and crack cocaine. While COVID-19 is primarily considered a respiratory infection, our heart and breathing systems are highly interdependent.

    Stimulant use—including cocaine and amphetamines—can have a number of negative effects on heart health. Cocaine and amphetamine use can each lead to very dangerous, sometimes fatal consequences, including very high blood pressure, heart attacks, irregular heart rhythms, stroke, and other kinds of damage to the heart.”

    Source: Vital Strategies

  • Provincial/Territorial Class Exemptions for Supervised Consumption Site Operators

    Provincial/Territorial Class Exemptions for Supervised Consumption Site Operators

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    “Health Canada proactively issued class exemptions to provinces and territories to ensure they have the tools needed to manage the compounding effects of the opioids overdose crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic on their communities. Specifically, the class exemptions will help in the overall response to the pandemic by reducing the administrative burden of having organizations applying for a supervised consumption site, or temporary overdose prevention site. Creating new spaces, as may be needed, or adjusting existing supervised consumption sites to respect public health guidance will prevent ongoing community spread of COVID-19 amongst a vulnerable population, help guard against community transmission, and preserve capacity amongst essential frontline healthcare workers.

    In issuing these exemptions, Health Canada will ensure a high degree of cooperation is maintained to ensure our collective response to the pandemic remains robust and comprehensive.”

    Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Policing the Pandemic: Tracking the Policing of Covid-19 across Canada

    Policing the Pandemic: Tracking the Policing of Covid-19 across Canada

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    “Across Canada, there has been an extraordinary scaling-up in police powers and presence in response to the virus’ spread. States of emergency have been declared in every province and territory, shutting down non-essential businesses, mandating self-isolation for recent travellers, and imposing physical distancing rules. These and other virus containment rules are being enforced via provincial public health law, emergency legislation, the criminal code, and municipal by-laws, resulting in hefty fines, and a risk of potential jail time for re-offences. In certain locations, check-points have been set up, while in other areas, people are being required to identify themselves when questioned by police.

    In some jurisdictions, police and municipal by-law officers have been given the power to enforce public health and emergency orders. Furthermore, a myriad of “snitch lines” have been launched across Canada in an effort to bolster police intelligence via crowdsourcing. These snitch lines are encouraging people to report on those in their community breaking rules under the new pandemic normal.”

    Source: Policing the Pandemic