Canada is spending too much trying to apprehend those who use illicit drugs and not enough trying to treat them, the CMA says.
In a Mar. 11 appearance before the Special Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs, CMA President Henry Haddad called for a national strategy that promotes awareness and prevention and emphasizes treatment, not law enforcement. If the strategy is developed and the shift in resources takes place, says the CMA, the possession of small amounts of marijuana could then be decriminalized, with criminal sanctions replaced by fines.
“Drug abuse and dependency is a chronic, relapsing disease for which there are effective treatments,” said Haddad, “and whenever possible, individuals suffering from drug dependency should be diverted from the criminal justice system into treatment and rehabilitation.”
Haddad made the presentation with Dr. William Campbell, president of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine.
The Senate committee has heard from a range of experts, including Swiss officials who explained their continuing attempts to battle drug use. The Swiss have used a collaborative and flexible approach that focuses on bringing users to treatment centres instead of jails.
The committee, struck a year ago, was charged primarily with studying Canada's policies on cannabis use. It is scheduled to table its final report in August. — Steven Wharry, CMAJ