Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
We conducted a qualitative study to understand people who use drugs’ (PWUD) perceptions of the new decriminalization policy, immediately prior to its’ implementation (October-December 2022)
Findings/Key points
From our data it became clear that many anticipated that decriminalization would have minimal or no impact on the overdose crisis. Regulation was perceived as the necessary policy approach for effectively and candidly addressing the drivers of the ongoing overdose crisis. These findings are important as jurisdictions consider different approaches to moving away from prohibition-based drug policy.
Design/methods
Interviews across all geographic health authorities in BC