File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Noah Rishaug

Drug Usage

Kamloops councillor expects more barriers after move to ban drug use in public spaces passes

Apr 12, 2023 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops and other municipalities in the BC Interior are considering bylaws to regain control over drug usage in public spaces, just two months after the decriminalization of personal amounts of illicit substances in British Columbia took effect.

The motion was introduced by Kamloops Councillor Katie Neustaeter during Tuesday’s council meeting, and it was passed by a margin of 5-to-2. The amendment must undergo three hearings and receive approval from the Ministry of Health to become law.

Neustaeter stated that the decriminalization of personal amounts of illicit substances in the province had identified a gap in provincial and local implementation, which is why the motion was introduced.

“This is just aligning open drug use with other policy as it applies to alcohol and smoking in public spaces,” Neustaeter said.

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However, critics of the motion have opposed banning drug use in public. Public health specialist Dr. Carol Fenton argued that prohibiting legal drug use in public spaces creates more stigma.

“I don’t want people to be using substances in private spaces alone. It’s very dangerous, the street supply is poison, so we really encourage people not to use alone,” Fenton stated

In a statement, the Ministry of Health expressed its disapproval of the motion, stating that other methods of harm reduction should take precedence. Neustaeter acknowledged that the challenge to the amendment’s approval will likely be strong, but she hopes it will open the door to dialogue and other municipalities with similar concerns.