The ministry of mental health and addictions expects data regarding the ongoing three-year drug decriminalization pilot project will be unveiled this fall. (Dreamstime)

By Ian Holmes

revised timeline

Mandated drug decriminalization data delayed

Aug 16, 2023 | 4:17 PM

NANAIMO — Nearly seven months into a pilot project in which possessing small amounts of hard drugs was decriminalized across B.C., the province is behind its own schedule on publishing online data.

Mandated by Health Canada to publicly report a monthly data dashboard on key indicators of public health and safety indicators, the province stated an online dashboard will be published this fall.

“This updated timeline allows Government to include a more fulsome picture, which includes data from police on drug-related offences as seizures pre and post-decriminalization. This has required considerable work with police partners and data experts,” a ministry of mental health and addictions statement to NanaimoNewsNOW read.

Projected months ago by the province to be unveiled in July, the ministry stated it’s ensuring the data presented is comprehensive, as up-to-date as possible, and has been reviewed by subject matter experts.

As of early May baseline data had been collected, according to an earlier statement from the ministry.

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Data regarding access to harm reduction and health services based on age, race and location are among the indicators that must be provided by the province, according to Health Canada.

“Strong data and evidence is necessary to ensure the exemption is meeting its goals and identifying any unintended negative consequences that must be addressed,” read a statement on Health Canada’s website regarding the matter.

When the drug decriminalization dashboard is available it will be published here.

As of Jan. 31, people 18-years-old were exempt from arrest, charges, fines, or having their exempted drugs confiscated if they amount to less than 2.5 grams as part of a three-year pilot project.

The three-year Health Canada-approved exemption applies to opioids such as heroin, morphine and fentanyl, as well as cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.

Criminal drug possession charges could still be applied if adults are in possession of any amount of illegal drugs at schools, licensed child-care facilities, airports and Canadian Coast Guard vessels and helicopters.

Police officers across the province were given resource cards to hand to drug users seen using in public spaces outlining various health supports and treatment options.

Viewed by the province as one tool to help address the spiralling toxic drug crisis in the province, B.C. and Nanaimo are both destined to break annual toxic drug death totals of 1,228 and 66 respectively over the first six months of the year.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes