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British Columbia relaxes laws on opioids and cocaine
The Canadian province of British Columbia ( BC ) has decriminalised the use of drugs including opioids , cocaine , methamphetamine and MDMA . People found in possession of up to 2.5g of drugs will no longer be arrested or charged , the province states , nor will they have the drugs seized by police .
The move is a ‘ critical step to end the shame and stigma that prevents people with substance use challenges from reaching out for life-saving help ,’ the province ’ s government states , although some campaigners have argued that the 2.5g limit is too low to reflect the quantities of drugs people are likely to carry . Health Canada , the national government ’ s health department , has granted BC an exemption under the country ’ s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalise personal possession and use , with police instead offering information on local treatment and recovery options . The province has been working with the police to develop training resources and guidance for more than 9,000 frontline officers , as well as ‘ building new pathways ’ into health services , it says .
PEOPLE ASKED ABOUT THEIR DRINKING by GPs and other professionals should have the information ‘ added to a validated questionnaire ’ to identify if they need help , according to a new draft quality standard from NICE . Thousands of people each year are potentially missing out on brief interventions or referrals to treatment services , it says . Of more than 600,000 dependent drinkers in 2018- 19 , less than 30 per cent were receiving treatment , according to OHID figures . Information on people ’ s alcohol consumption should be ‘ correctly and
Health authority staff members work at a supervised injection site in Surrey , British Colombia . Supervised injection sites have been operating legally in BC since 2003 . Credit : Xinhua / Alamy
BC has stressed that the drugs themselves remain illegal , and possession will still be illegal on school grounds or at childcare facilities . The local and national government will work together to evaluate the exemption and ensure there are no unintended consequences . Canada became the first G7 country to legalise and regulate recreational cannabis in 2018 and recently made international headlines when it revised down its recommended drinking guidelines to just ‘ one to two ’ alcoholic drinks per week ( www . drinkanddrugsnews . com / canada-revises-low-risk-drinking-
appropriately stored ’, the NICE guidance says , which would also help to avoid people being repeatedly asked about their drinking .
Alongside GPs , NICE is urging secondary and social care services , criminal justice agencies and community and voluntary services to make sure that systems are in place for the use of validated questionnaires when asking people about their drinking .
‘ Many of us are asked about our alcohol use when we interact with health services , but if an appropriate questionnaire is
guidelines-to-one-to-two-drinks- per-week )
‘ We know criminalisation drives people to use alone ,’ said BC ’ s minister of mental health and addictions , Jennifer Whiteside . ‘ Given the increasingly toxic drug supply , using alone can be fatal . Decriminalising people who use drugs breaks down the fear and shame associated with substance use and ensures they feel safer reaching out for life-saving supports . This is a vital step to get more people connected to the services and supports as the province continues to add them at an unprecedented rate .’
Drinking habits should be better recorded
not used , people with alcohol problems could be slipping through the net and may not be receiving the support they need ,’ said director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE , Dr Paul Chrisp .
‘ We know a large number of people who are dependent of alcohol are not receiving treatment and this could be for a variety of reasons , but as part of a health and care system that continually learns from data , we do know that using a validated questionnaire provides commissioners with the information they need to organise appropriate services .’
Local News
NEW VISION A new partnership led by Humankind , in association with local partners Project 6 , The Bridge Project and Create Strength Group , will provide a range of treatment and recovery services in Bradford from April onwards . New Vision Bradford aims to better meet the needs of the area ’ s diverse communities .
OPEN INNOVATION The Forward Trust has been awarded the contract to deliver substance services in Medway in partnership with Open Road . This will include extensive outreach as well as innovations such as virtual reality , digital programmes and a ‘ recovery village ’ with access to different agencies . ‘ We ’ re excited about this new way of working ,’ said CEO Mike Trace .
SKILLING UP WDP has been successful in its bid to deliver an IPS service to people in Islington with substance misuse needs . A dedicated team will help build people ’ s skills through training and work experience , allowing them to ‘ realise their ambitions and aspirations ’, said executive director of services Craig Middleton . https :// humankindcharity . org . uk
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