People who use drugs' prioritization of regulation amid decriminalization reforms in British Columbia, Canada: A qualitative study

被引:5
作者
Xavier, Jessica C. [1 ,2 ]
McDermid, Jennifer [1 ]
Buxton, Jane [3 ]
Henderson, Iesha [4 ]
Streukens, Amber [4 ]
Lamb, Jessica [4 ]
Greer, Alissa [1 ,5 ]
机构
[1] Simon Fraser Univ, Sch Criminol, 8888 Univ Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
[2] British Columbia Ctr Dis Control, 655W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
[3] Univ British Columbia, Sch Populat & Publ Hlth, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z8, Canada
[4] British Columbia Ctr Dis Control, Profess Eth Engagement Peers PEEP, 655W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
[5] Simon Fraser Univ, Vancouver, BC, Canada
关键词
Overdose; Drug toxicity; Decriminalization; Regulation; Safer supply; Drug policy reform; Qualitative; People with lived and living experience of; substance use; HARM REDUCTION; PUBLIC-HEALTH; OVERDOSE; POLICY; IMPLEMENTATION;
D O I
10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104354
中图分类号
R194 [卫生标准、卫生检查、医药管理];
学科分类号
摘要
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.
引用
收藏
页数:13
相关论文
共 120 条
[1]   "2.5 g, I could do that before noon": a qualitative study on people who use drugs' perspectives on the impacts of British Columbia's decriminalization of illegal drugs threshold limit [J].
Ali, Farihah ;
Russell, Cayley ;
Greer, Alissa ;
Bonn, Matthew ;
Werb, Daniel ;
Rehm, Juergen .
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PREVENTION AND POLICY, 2023, 18 (01)
[2]  
Angus Reid Institute, 2021, CAN OTH EP OV DEATHS
[3]  
[Anonymous], 2021, FILTER MAGAZINE
[4]  
[Anonymous], Global News
[5]  
[Anonymous], 2010, Proceedings of the special committee on illegal drugs
[6]  
[Anonymous], 2023, Vancouver Sun
[7]  
[Anonymous], 2023, Global News
[8]  
[Anonymous], NVIVO QUALITATIVE DA
[9]   Increasing trends and incidence of nonfatal overdose among women sex workers who use drugs in British Columbia: The role of criminalization-related barriers to harm reduction [J].
Argento, Elena ;
Shannon, Kate ;
Fairbairn, Nadia ;
Moreheart, Sarah ;
Braschel, Melissa ;
Goldenberg, Shira .
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, 2023, 244
[10]   Deconstructing prohibitionist ideology: A sociocognitive approach to understand opinions on UK drug policy and the law [J].
Askew, Rebecca ;
Bone, Melissa .
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY, 2019, 74 :33-40