The chief of a B.C. municipal police force has issued an open letter criticizing British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 drug decriminalization policies as ineffective in the face of the ongoing overdose crisis.

Delta Chief Const. Neil Dubord says in the letter that while he agrees with 91裸聊视频渢he underlying principles of decriminalization,91裸聊视频� an early evaluation shows that the policy has not led to 91裸聊视频渢he desired outcome.91裸聊视频�

B.C. decriminalized the possession of small amounts of certain drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and cocaine starting in late January as part of a three-year pilot program.

Dubord says there were 791 overdose deaths in the province between then and May, which 91裸聊视频渃losely mirrors91裸聊视频� the 772 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

In a written statement, the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions says it agrees with Dubord91裸聊视频檚 assessment that 91裸聊视频渁 whole-system approach91裸聊视频� is needed to deal with the toxic drug crisis.

But the statement also says 91裸聊视频渄ecriminalization is one critical way91裸聊视频� the province is tackling the problem 91裸聊视频渇rom every angle,91裸聊视频� and the government plans to spend $1 billion in its latest budget toward addressing addiction 91裸聊视频� including $586 million for 91裸聊视频渢reatment and recovery.91裸聊视频�

In his letter, Dubord cites a report in the Washington Post that describes Portugal as 91裸聊视频渉aving doubts91裸聊视频� about its own decriminalization policy, introduced in 2001 and widely cited as a success by policymakers worldwide.

The story describes locals attributing rising crime levels to a spike in the number of drug users.

Dubord says B.C. 91裸聊视频渃an learn from Portugal91裸聊视频檚 experiences.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭he pitfalls of inconsistent policy, lack of oversight and measurement of initiatives, systems working in silos and funding decisions pose risks to the desired objectives of the B.C. decriminalization pilot project,91裸聊视频� he says.

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