Drug decriminalization and WHS - Lessons learned from Canada

Kevin Barrett is Dan the Safety Man’s Canadian friend, I was drawn to one of his recent videos, "It's Just A Little Meth or Is It Politics Over Safety?" This thought-provoking piece explores the Canadian handling of safety regulations in the wake of drug decriminalization—a timely topic as Australia contemplates similar policies and our nation’s capital has already started an experiment in October 2023 to see if decriminalisation works (funny how politicians chose parliament and its surrounding areas, making it legal to use cocaine in Parliament).

For those who are more a fan of watching videos than reading, I would encourage you to watch Kevin's video.

The province of British Columbia, the Western Australia of Canada, embarked on a controversial experiment on 1 January 2023, by legalising drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin for public possession and use. This policy shift has led to unintended consequences, such as increased drug use in public spaces, including hospitals, where users may feel safest in case of an overdose.

From a Work Health and Safety perspective, the repercussions are significant. Instances of drug use in emergency departments not only strain healthcare resources but also pose severe risks to other patients and healthcare workers. For example, exposure to meth smoke can be deadly for individuals with conditions like asthma—mirroring the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke which prompted Australia to impose strict anti-smoking laws in hospitals and public spaces beginning in 2000.

Recent reports from Canadian media highlight the growing concern among frontline workers:

• "Nurses exposed to illicit drugs in BC hospitals" (The Safety Mag, April 11, 2024)

• "Illicit drug use in Island Health hospitals sparks WorkSafeBC investigation" (Vancouver Sun, April 4, 2024)

• "Substance exposure put 36 health workers on WorkSafeBC compensation in 2023" (Oak Bay News, April 12, 2024)

 

These incidents underscore the broader operational challenges faced by hospitals, drawing attention to the safety risks that drug decriminalization can exacerbate.

 

The debate over drug policy in Australia mirrors these concerns, with political viewpoints ranging widely. Conservative factions (Liberal National Party) advocate for stringent regulations to prevent drug misuse, while minority groups with progressive ideals like the Greens argue for personal freedom (decriminalisation) and exploration. Centrist parties, such as Labor, often promote a middle path focusing on harm reduction, exemplified by their support for safe injection sites established in 2001 under the Labor Party.

 

Australia must carefully consider these international experiences. Legalizing drugs like meth and heroin without robust safeguards could lead to similar or even more severe issues in our hospitals and communities, affecting not just drug users but everyone around them including hospital workers, other patients etc. especially since I can absolutely see stupid memos issued by people in hospitals who have clearly never dealt with a junkie before saying "Don't take their drugs, knives or guns away from them". (this was an actual memo issued by Northern Health in Canada).

 

In rethinking drug policies, the paramount concern should be the collective well-being, ensuring that efforts to address drug use do not inadvertently harm those they aim to protect or, more importantly, innocent people. This approach is not just about managing drugs but safeguarding our society against the broad-ranging implications of these potent substances.

Drug addictions can begin for a multitude of reasons—some people engage out of sheer recklessness, others as a form of escapism from dire circumstances such as imprisonment, homelessness, or domestic abuse, and still others might succumb due to a weak will combined with vulnerabilities such as an initial dependence on prescribed opiates like codeine and morphine, which can lead to harder substances like fentanyl and heroin.

In Australia, even legal substances are prohibited in the workplace, especially in high-risk industries. This includes drugs like cannabis and certain painkillers. Crucially, the knowledge that a drug is illegal acts as a deterrent. When a substance is legalised, it often comes with defined safe usage levels, as we've seen with alcohol, where the permissible blood alcohol content was lowered in 1980 from 0.08 to 0.05 to reduce accidents. Legalisation can imply that a drug is safe or tested, which is misleading in the case of drugs like DMAA and meth, classified under stringent schedules in Australian laws due to their known risks to humans.

I am firmly against the decriminalization of hard drugs. The case of medicinal cannabis, which was decriminalized in 2018 after proven benefits for various physical and psychiatric disorders, stands in stark contrast. Applying similar logic to drugs like meth and heroin—without any evidence of societal benefits—seems not only premature but also potentially dangerous.

In conclusion, as Australia debates its drug policies, we must tread cautiously, learning from others' experiences and ensuring that any changes prioritize public health and safety. Legalising substances without robust evidence of their benefits and clear strategies for managing their risks could jeopardise not just individual users but the entire fabric of our society.