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By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Observations on drug use from fire chief, top cop are illuminating but not gospel

Jul 21, 2023 | 11:15 AM

IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY the comments from our fire chief and our police superintendent this week about drug use. It’s also important we add some context to what they were saying.

At the city’s policing committee meeting this week, RCMP Superintendent Jeff Pelley and KFR Chief Ken Uzeloc were asked about their operations’ experiences dealing with drug use in the city since decriminalization came into effect on the last day of January.

The two were put on the spot and had to speak extemporaneously. Pelley responded briefly that his officers had been dealing with more open drug use in the period of decriminalization. Uzeloc quoted first quarter overdose statistics, saying naloxone use increased dramatically.

On the surface, these observations fly in the face of the province’s claims that decriminalization would not increase drug use, but rather help destigmatize those who suffer from substance use disorder.

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Off-the-cuff statements like this are only partly helpful. Pelley’s observations need to be backed up with some better quantitative data. Uzeloc’s observations on overdoses are only tangentially relevant to a question that was about potential increases in open drug use on the streets of Kamloops.

As the saying goes, correlation does not equal causation. Just because A follows B does not mean B caused A. There are a lot of factors at play that could lead to the conditions Pelley and Uzeloc are observing.

Does that mean these statements should be disregarded? No.

Pelley and Uzeloc are, by all accounts, competent and level-headed leaders who are just as concerned about improving the situation for the vulnerable in our community as anyone else.

But it also doesn’t mean these observations should be taken as gospel.

As Councillor Katie Neustaeter said in the meeting, we don’t have data, so we are left to rely on imperfect observations like these. That’s both unfortunate and inadequate.

The province needs to give the public a way to honestly evaluate whether decriminalization is fulfilling the government’s stated goals and-or leading to unintended impacts.

Until that’s available, it’s up to B.C. residents not to overreact and demonize a policy that may actually result in more people seeking help for their serious medical conditions.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.