By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

program is at nine other canadian prisons

Needle exchange program coming to Bowden Institution

Feb 3, 2020 | 10:39 AM

The union representing correctional officers at Bowden Institution is calling out the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) for its decision to implement a needle exchange program at the institution.

The Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP) will start in March and permit federal inmates to have their own needle inside their cell for the purpose of injecting drugs, according to the the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO).

The union says the policy puts officers and front-line staff at greater risk.

“The overall risk to the inmate is [also] dramatically increased in comparison to the harm reduction methods being employed in overdose prevention sites (OPS), an alternative that CSC has gone with before,” says James Bloomfield, Prairies regional president. “The risk to all staff and inmates is only increased when needles intended for injecting illegal drugs are in the cells.”

Bloomfield notes that an overdose prevention site has been running safely at Drumheller Institution since last June, adding that there have been no missing needles or an increase in risk to staff.

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“The Correctional Service of Canada has refused to listen to all front-line staff regarding their safety and has chosen to put a dollar value on the safety of first responders,” says Bloomfield.

Esther Mailhot, CSC Communications Advisor, says needle exchange programs started in June 2018 and are now in place at nine institutions across the country. There have been zero safety-related incidents, she says.

“PNEP forms part of the Correctional Service of Canada’s suite of harm reduction measures aimed at limiting the spread of infectious diseases in federal institutions and helping to ensure that offenders reintegrating into the community are doing so in a healthy and safe manner,” says Mailhot.

“CSC completes a Threat Risk Assessment to evaluate security concerns before an inmate is approved to participate in the PNEP.”

Mailhot notes that nearly 75 per cent of offenders arrive at federal institutions with some level of substance use disorder. Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia will become the second to have an overdose prevention site later this year.

“There are number of tools available that are used to prevent the flow of drugs into our institutions. These include searches of offenders, visitors, buildings, and cells using search tools including ion scanners and detector dogs,” Mailhot continues. “CSC applies strict policies concerning contraband and unauthorized activities. CSC’s drug strategy focuses on reducing the demand for illicit drugs by providing treatment and rehabilitation. For example, we offer programming that addresses many criminogenic needs, including substance use disorder.”

Stacey Carmichael, executive director at Red Deer-based Turning Point, says while an OPS at Bowden Institution may be a better alternative, it isn’t guaranteed everyone would use it.

“I support access to safe supplies, including disposal options. People will use drugs even when they aren’t supposed to and they will use by whatever means are necessary,” she says. “Limiting supplies creates a whole multitude of problems that would in fact put everyone at a greater risk for negative consequences.”