Conference calls for decriminalization of possession of illicit drugs

Where there’s hope, she says, is in spending time with other people who understand harm reduction and peer-based support, finding missed evidence and learning from each other.

“We’re going into communities where we’re trying to create a space for public health to respond to a public health epidemic, a poisoning epidemic, a toxic drug supply, rampant stigma and discrimination against people who are marginalized, people who are racialized, Indigenous, black, poor, or people with a health issue,” Vanderschaeghe says. “We really are trying to support each other so we can go back out there and do good work and take care of people at a time when it’s really scary and really dangerous.”

During the conference, close to 100 organizations from across Canada, including Red Deer’s Turning Point, signed a three-part call to action which speaks to human rights, health, legal, harm reduction and lived experience. Generally speaking, the call to action requests that provincial and federal governments dramatically accelerate their responses to the deadly epidemic of overdose deaths – this in light of the Public Health Agency of Canada stating last month that the rate of overdose deaths continues to rise.

Part one asks for government to provide a safer supply of drugs and a full spectrum of substitution treatment options, part two suggests the possession of drugs for personal use should be decriminalized, and part three advises the expedition and expansion of evidence-based harm reduction interventions.

On the subject of cannabis, Vanderschaeghe says what’s key to remember is that there has been a lot of pressure on all levels of governments to achieve legalization in a good way.

“Although it may not feel like it’s being decriminalized, this legalization is of course good news. It’s a balance between legalization and having conversations around health. It’s a tricky one,” she says.

“Often what we’re seeing at a municipal level is that governments are uncomfortable with making choices that are really restrictive related to legalization and that’s hard for people, but to be fair, we’ll get there. It’s about trying to be patient.”

Of the 800 in attendance at Stimulus 2018, Vanderschaeghe says between 150 and 200 were active drug users. With that in mind, the conference featured a pop-up overdose prevention site to ensure all who wanted to be there were safe to use if they needed to do so.

She expects the conference to happen every two years going forward and move around the country. Red Deerians Kalisha Mendonsa and Kareen Lambert were also part of the conference’s organizing team.

Between the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, approximately $50,000 was contributed to the conference.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Conference calls for decriminalization of possession of illicit drugs

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