Association of Chiefs of Police say the criminal-justice system has been ineffective in dealing with people who are battling substance use and addiction issues
LARS HAGBERG/AFP/Getty Images
The group, which includes the chiefs of most police forces in the country, said a shift in federal drug laws is urgently needed to divert these users away from the courts and into the hands of health care and social-service providers. This is a long-standing demand of activists, scientists and public-health officials from across the country.
“We have less than two Canadians die per day of homicide and we have 11 Canadians a day dying of overdose,” said Adam Palmer, head of the CACP and a Vancouver police constable. “So it’s a significant public safety issue and a public health issue that we need to have a different approach with. Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Attorney-General David Lametti e-mailed a joint response Thursday welcoming the CACP’s “holistic approach including harm reduction and diversion.” They thanked the chiefs for their recommendations and highlighted Ottawa’s compassionate approach to ending the opioid crisis, but made no commitment to decriminalization.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Police chiefs call for decriminalization of personal drug useCanada's police chiefs are calling for decriminalization of personal possession of illicit drugs as the best way to battle substance abuse and addiction.
Read more »
Police chiefs call for decriminalization of personal drug useThe Trudeau government has already legalized recreational use of marijuana with the goal of keeping pot out of the hands of young people and denying profits to organized criminals
Read more »
Durham Police Chief announces retirement amid probe into alleged harassment in serviceThe announcement comes a year after a provincial probe was launched into allegations about cronyism and harassment within the Durham Regional Police Service
Read more »
Black man’s hanging death in California was suicide, police say, citing prior hospitalizations for depressionRobert Fuller told Nevada doctors he had a plan to kill himself, allegedly tried to light himself on fire before being found hanging from a tree last month
Read more »