Drug decriminalization associated with reductions in police arrests

In the 2 years before decriminalization in British Columbia, rates of drug possession incidents were decreasing by 2% per month in British Columbia and 1% per month in the rest of Canada. After decriminalization, there was decrease of 57% in drug possession incidents in British Columbia – and no significant change in the rest of Canada, according to a research letter published June 3 in JAMA . The public health data was different, however. During the first year of decriminalization, there were no significant changes in quarterly rates of stimulant or opioid deaths, or stimulant or opioid hospitalizations. Drug decriminalization is often discussed as a way to reduce drug overdoses. The researchers compared changes in outcomes between the 2 years before decriminalization and the first year of decriminalization between British Columbia and the rest of Canada. Their study evaluated changes in police‐reported drug incidents as well as hospitalizations and deaths from opioids and stimulants in the first year after decriminalization. “Drug Decriminalization in British Columbia and Changes in Drug Crime and Opioid and Stimulant Harms” is by Adrienne Gaudreault and colleagues.