As opioid deaths skyrocket, Kingston takes a long look at drug decriminalization

Nearly two dozen agencies in the Kingston, Ont., areaare askingresidents what they thinkabout decriminalizing illegal drugs for personal use as theregion sees deaths from opioid use skyrocket.

Between 2014 and 2020, there wasa 330 per cent rise in opioid-related deaths in the region served by Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox& Addington (KFLA) Public Health, according to numbers from the health unit.

As a result, the Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Community Drug Strategy Advisory Committee has launched a survey to get people's thoughts on decriminalization a tactic that's been implemented elsewhere, though not without controversy.

"It's not quite the same as legalization, but it's lifting that legal penalty for someone that may have [drugs] on them," said Sara Tryon, program planner with KFLA, one of the committee's community partners.

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The survey first getspeople to self-declare they're older than 16 and live in the area. It thenasks their opinions on a range of statementsrelated to decriminalization for instance, whether they believe criminal charges deter people from using drugs, or if they feel decriminalization would reduce the stigma users face.

According to the health unit, the feedback will help inform how they respond to the local drug crisis and could alsobe part of a Health Canada application to decriminalize some unregulated drugs in the region.

People have until May 15 to fill it out.

"Decriminalization is a new way [to tackle the crisis here]and can be scary. But it is not currently working, our system," Tryon told CBC Radio'sOntario Todaylast week.

"And trying to make some changes for the positive is really where we should be looking and putting our efforts."

Gaining popularity but not without critics

Changes are already underway in British Columbia, which embarked in January on a three-year pilot project that decriminalized small amounts of most illegal drugs for people over 18.

Trafficking illegal drugs in B.C. or possessing them for the sake of trafficking can still land a person in prison, as could possessing them in places like airports, schools and child-care facilities.

The strategy has also gained steam in Ontario, with Toronto's board of health voting in 2021 to ask the federal government for an exemptionand Hamilton's board asking city staff to produce a studyon decriminalization the following year.

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In 2021, the previous Kingston council also endorsed a motion by the healthunit that supported decriminalization as a way to stem the tide of overdoses.

While there's been pushback from some downtown residents and businesses who encounter people living and struggling with addictions on a regular basis, the data seems to suggest decriminalization is the right way forward,said King's Town Coun. Gregory Ridge.

"I certainly understand why they would feel that way. But I think that we also have to look at the larger picture here about harm mitigation," said Ridge, whose district includes Princess Street and other parts of Kingston's urban core.

"They're totally right to be concerned about that. If they're not feeling safe, they're not feeling safe ... but I'm not convinced that by decriminalizing [drug possession] it's going to make things worse."

Current approach a 'catastrophic failure'

While it's too early to make firm conclusionsabout the B.C. pilot project, there's ample evidencethat prohibiting and criminalizing drug possession has been a "huge catastrophic failure," saidKora DeBeck, a research scientist with the B.C. Centre on Substance Use.

"It does not effectively deter people from usingsubstances. It has not kept substances away from young people, from the general public," said DeBeck, who also teaches public policy at Simon Fraser University.

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The B.C. policy has two "unique" features, DeBeck said, that should be implemented elsewhere:police won't seize a person's drugs if they have less than the legal limit, and no one gets ticketed or told to go into treatment.

The former limits the harm of withdrawal, DeBeck said, while the latter goes a long way to reduce feelings ofstigma.

"There's very few risks associated with [decriminalization]," she said.

"We're monitoring, we're evaluating, we're looking for any potential unintendedconsequences or harms ... but I think in the big picture although it's quite symbolically important it's a pretty low-risk move."

Part of a larger solution

Evidence fromother jurisdictions, Tryon toldOntario Morning,has shown decriminalization increases the likelihood people with addictions seek health care and decreases the number of drug poisonings and blood-borne illnesses.

As of mid-week, the Kingston survey had received about 300 responses. If the final results which also include dozens of focused conversations show an interest in pursuing decriminalization locally,Tryon said KFLAwould start work on an application for an exemption under theControlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The model they'd developwithwould consider things like age limits, what kinds of drugs would be exempt, and how any potential harms would be addressed. The workcould begin by the summer, she said.

The added benefit of the survey project, Tryon said, is that KFLA will also find out where the Kingston area is falling short when it comes to addictions-related services and be better positioned to bolsterthem.

"Decriminalization is not the one solution that's going to solve all of our issues related to substance use," she said.

"We need to have a system in place that's going to support addictions and mental health and all the issues that people are facing in our community."