People who use drugs' prioritization of regulation amid decriminalization reforms in British Columbia, Canada: A qualitative study.
Jessica C Xavier, Jennifer McDermid, Jane Buxton, Iesha Henderson, Amber Streukens, Jessica Lamb, Alissa Greer
Author Information
Jessica C Xavier: School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655W 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4R4, Canada.
Jennifer McDermid: School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada.
Jane Buxton: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z8, Canada.
Iesha Henderson: Professionals for the Ethical Engagement of Peers (PEEP), British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655W 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4R4, Canada.
Amber Streukens: Professionals for the Ethical Engagement of Peers (PEEP), British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655W 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4R4, Canada.
Jessica Lamb: Professionals for the Ethical Engagement of Peers (PEEP), British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655W 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4R4, Canada.
Alissa Greer: School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: alissa_greer@sfu.ca.
BACKGROUND: North America and the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, is experiencing an unprecedented number of overdose deaths. In BC, overdose has become the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10-59 years old. In January 2023, BC decriminalized personal possession of a number of illegal substances with one aim being to address overdose deaths through stigma reduction and promoting access to substance use services. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study to understand people who use drugs' (PWUD) perceptions of the new decriminalization policy, immediately prior to its' implementation (October-December 2022). To contextualize decriminalization within broader drug policy, we also asked PWUD what they perceived as the priority issues drug policy ought to address and the necessary solutions. Our final sample included 38 participants who used illegal drugs in the past month. RESULTS: We identified four themes: 1) The illicit drug supply as the main driver of drug toxicity deaths 2) Concerns about the impact of decriminalization on drug toxicity deaths 3) Views towards decriminalization as a policy response in the context of the drug toxicity crisis 4) Regulation as a symbol of hope for reducing drug toxicity deaths. CONCLUSION: From our data it became clear that many anticipated that decriminalization would have minimal or no impact on the overdose crisis. Regulation was perceived as the necessary policy approach for effectively and candidly addressing the drivers of the ongoing overdose crisis. These findings are important as jurisdictions consider different approaches to moving away from prohibition-based drug policy.
