A vocal advocate for limiting public drug consumption in Kamloops is lauding the move by the BC government to roll-back a key concern of decriminalization.

Responding to the announcement that the BC government intends to ask Health Canada to recriminalize public drug use, Kamloops Councillor Katie Neustaeter suggests its a walk-back the decriminalization pilot needs.

“It has not had the positive consequences that we had hoped. We see that in other places where its been attempted as well,” said Neustaeter.  “Unless it was done right, it was going to fail.”

Neustaeter suggests the move is also an opportunity for the government to focus on more on creating spaces where people can safely use drugs, while also accessing help.

“It’s certainly one of the harm reduction pieces that should have been put in place before decriminalization that says: Here’s a place where you get your drugs tested. Here’s where you can use safely. Here are wrap around services,” said Neustaeter.  “A path into health, when and if you are ready for that. We need those things, and they should have been in place. Those are the guardrails that should have been in place before decriminalization to make it successful.”

While Neustaeter’s original motion to amend Kamloops bylaws to limit drug use was walked back, the amended proposal – which was passed in September last year – never took effect due to a lack of provincial-government sign-off.

In announcing plans to asks for the recriminalization of open drug use, Premier David Eby did not specify when Health Canada might be able to approve the province’s request.