A group of social justice organizations sent a letter to Canadian politicians requesting they enact drug policy changes, harm reduction, and an end to war on drugs measures. .“We have seen the devastating effects of more than a century of drug prohibition and criminalization,” said Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC) senior policy analyst Nick Boyce in a press release. .“It has not stopped people using drugs, but has fuelled stigma, racism, classism, discrimination, cartels, gun violence, and a deadly toxic drug supply that is killing 20 people every day in Canada.” .The letter was signed by 87 organizations and 270 people. Some of the signatories include the CDPC, the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, and the HIV Legal Network. .The letter is part of Support. Don’t Punish — a global grassroots campaign supporting harm reduction and drug policies which prioritize human rights and public health. .The letter calls on politicians to denounce requests for involuntary drug treatment, regulate drug treatment services, stop withholding services, develop community solutions driven by people who use drugs, repeal punitive drug laws, and develop a framework for safe supply as a way to reduce harm. .“We are calling on governments, and the public, to re-think how we approach drug policy,” said Harm Reduction Nurses Association President Corey Ranger. .“Instead of wasting money on ineffective policing, courts and prisons, we could be providing housing, healthcare, education and other social supports, while allowing people to access a non-toxic and regulated supply of drugs, similar to how we do with alcohol and cannabis.”.Support. Don’t Punish focuses on the ideas the drug control system is broken and needs reform; people who use drugs should no longer be criminalized; those involved in the drug trade should not face harsh or disproportionate punishments; the death penalty should never be imposed for these offences; these policies should focus on health, well-being, and harm reduction; and budgets need rebalancing to ensure health and harm reduction-based responses are financed right. .A vote regarding the Canadian government's safe supply policy, which saw 209 MPs vote for it and 113 against it, happened in the House of Commons May 29. .READ MORE: With surging overdose deaths, Parliament upholds 'safe supply' drug policy.“This is not about encouraging drug use or turning a blind eye to the consequences,” said Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett. .“It is about acknowledging the reality that people will continue to use drugs and that by providing a safer alternative, we can minimize the harm and pave the way toward recovery.”
