Original article: https://theconversation.com/drug-prohibition-is-fuelling-the-overdose-crisis-regulating-drugs-is-the-way-out-233632
Originally published:
Written by: Kora DeBeck, Perry Kendall, and Lisa Lapointe
The Case for Drug Regulation to Combat the Overdose Crisis
The ongoing overdose crisis in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, is largely fueled by the toxic and unregulated drug supply. Since the overdose crisis began in 2016, illicit drug toxicity has become the leading cause of death in B.C. and a major issue nationwide. Over 44,000 people have died from drug poisoning in Canada, with over a third of those deaths occurring in B.C. The underlying issue? The illicit drug market is controlled by organized crime, which produces highly potent and dangerous drugs to maximize profit, with no regard for health or safety standards.
The Failure of Prohibition
The current approach of drug prohibition is a key driver of the overdose crisis. Just as alcohol prohibition in the 1920s failed to reduce alcohol consumption and led to dangerous black-market production, today's drug prohibition has not stopped the availability of illicit drugs. In fact, drug use continues to rise, with an estimated 225,000 people using illegal substances in B.C. alone.
The Solution: Drug Regulation
The authors argue that the only real solution to this crisis is to regulate the production, distribution, and sale of currently illegal drugs. By moving away from prohibition, governments could implement health and safety standards that would dramatically reduce the risks posed by illicit substances. Just as tobacco regulation has reduced smoking rates through public health policies, such as age restrictions and marketing controls, similar strategies could be applied to drugs like heroin and cocaine.
Why Addiction Treatment Alone Isn’t Enough
While addiction treatment is crucial, it’s not a cure-all. Many people who use drugs are not addicted, and many who are addicted may not seek treatment. More importantly, the unregulated drug supply poses a deadly risk to all users, especially those who relapse after a period of abstinence, as their tolerance decreases, and they are at higher risk of overdose. Regulating drugs, therefore, is an essential step in reducing the harm caused by the current toxic drug market.
A Regulated Drug Supply: A Safer Future
Regulating drugs would take control away from organized crime, ensuring that substances are produced safely and distributed under strict health guidelines. While the implementation of such a system would be complex and require ongoing evaluation, it is seen as the best way to reverse the current trend of overdose deaths. Governments already regulate potentially dangerous products, from food ingredients to firearms, and applying similar measures to drugs is a life-saving necessity.
The authors conclude that continuing with the current prohibitionist approach is no longer an option. Regulating drugs could save thousands of lives, and it’s a policy change urgently needed to address the catastrophic failure of current drug laws.
This article emphasizes that drug regulation is not a radical or irresponsible idea; it is the logical, evidence-based solution to the overdose crisis that is already claiming too many lives.
