Commentary
by
Csete, Joanne & Richard Elliott
Release Date
2020
Geography
International
Language of Resource
English
Full Text Available
No
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
No
Peer Reviewed
Unknown
Objective
Examines the human rights justification for incorporating safe supply as an important element of the HR pillar of drug policy. This examination is relevant to the call for adoption of such a policy in Canada to address OD mortality, the need to open a debate on the subject in the US, and the continued scrutiny of existing safe supply programs in Europe.
Findings/Key points
A human rights analysis which states that States have the obligation of protecting their citizen's lives in the face of sanitary risks. Following this logic, safe supply represents a a pragmatic and rights-based way for governments to safeguard the lives of people who use drugs. The auhors state that health goods, such as a safe supply, are informed by treaties . More specifically, these health goods should be available in sufficient quantitiy, accessible (economically, non discriminatory), acceptable (respect to culture and gender ) and of good quality. Moreover, safe supply programs should be crafted with the people for whom they are aimed to ensure a general acceptability.
Design/methods
Human-rights based analysis of safer supply policy
Keywords
Policy/Regulatory
Safer supply
Advocacy
Illegal drugs
Peer/PWLLE program involvement
