Operating Grant: Evaluation of the British Columbia Exemption to Allow for Personal Possession of Small Amounts of Illegal Drugs
Progress Report Lay Summary – October 2024

Nominated Principal Investigator: Jürgen Rehm, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) – Ontario Node

Background

Background information can be found here: Semi-annual Meeting – May 2024

Progress Report Lay Summary: April 2024 - October 2024

During this reporting period, the research team finalized all qualitative PWUD and police sub-study analyses and submitted several papers for publication. The results suggest that decriminalization has not substantially affected PWUD's substance use patterns, overdose risk, or experiences of stigma; police use of discretion continues to impact outcomes of interactions with PWUD. The team also completed the harm reduction (HR) and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) survey, which was distributed to all HR and OAT sites across BC. The results indicate minimal decriminalization-related impacts but highlight a greater overall demand on staff and resources. The follow-up qualitative phase of this study will be launched in the fall of 2024. Additionally, the team received initial quantitative data. Data analyses reveal no significant impacts of decriminalization on supervised consumption site visits, opioid-related poisoning paramedic responses, and drug-related poisoning deaths, but a decreasing trend in the number of clients dispensed OAT medications post-decriminalization. These data are being drafted into manuscripts. The team also finalized a public opinion poll, analyzed the results, and submitted a manuscript for publication; findings suggest that the general public is not overly supportive of the policy. Lastly, the team spent considerable time engaging with partners and participating in knowledge dissemination activities, including presenting data at several conferences.The next update is expected in Spring 2025.

For more information

Additional information about this project can be found on the OCRINT webpage as well as the CIHR website.

More information on CIHR's Research in Substance Use initiative can be found online or email rsu-rst@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

For more information, visit CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction or email INMHA-INSMT@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Date modified: