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to Help Others Take a Step in the Right Direction.
Five years sober, Moose Jaw’s Meagan Jasper says British Columbia’s pilot program to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use is a step in the right direction to break stigma and treat addiction as a health problem.
The three-year pilot in BC began on January 31st. It would allow a person to carry 2.5 grams of cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine or opioids including heroin, fentanyl and morphine for personal use. Trafficking in these drugs or possessing these drugs for the purpose of trafficking is still illegal in BC
“I can’t wait to see what happens next because I think it’s a step in the right direction. There’s so much more we need,” Jasper said.
Jasper recalled her addiction starting when she was 14 years old. She came from a typical middle class family and not the stereotypical broken home.
She said the stigma surrounding using drugs and getting help doesn’t just affect the drug user. Their families are also stigmatized.
“When my parents were dealing with me at age 14, when I started my addiction, they were afraid to seek help because of the stigma,” Jasper said.
“Well, not to mention how it feels to finally be able to say as an addict, ‘Hey, I might need some help,’ or the lady who’s a nurse who is struggling with addiction, how is she asking for help , if there is one? any such stigma attached to it?”
She hopes this pilot program will begin treating addiction as a health problem rather than a criminal problem.
She recalled the first time she went to prison for possession when she was 18. She said every time she went to prison, she “came out better criminals” as her experiences in prison led her to human trafficking.
“I had a lot of ecstasy on me. I have a drug charge. I ruptured because I couldn’t stay off the drugs, so I had about 13 ruptures,” Jasper commented.
“So they finally sent me to Pine Grove when I was 18 and the only thing I got out of there was going with more friends, but not only that, I was like, ‘oh, I could start giving drugs to these guys sell ‘ because it costs a lot of money out there and I can get it cheap.
She noted that her previous convictions for possession still follow her after five years of sobriety.
Jasper believes that with the right support, decriminalization will save lives. She believes users will be more willing to use together rather than alone, and if someone overdoses, others will be willing to stick around and see a doctor.
She remembers that wasn’t the case when she was on drugs.
“When someone went down, you threw the NARCAN and then you fucking got out of there because you don’t want to get arrested,” Jasper said.
Jasper noted that in countries like Poland, where possession of illegal drugs has been decriminalized, there are many support services in place to treat drug use and addiction as a medical problem.
She would like to see Saskatchewan follow BC’s lead, but feels the province lacks the support it needs.
“Saskatchewan is really far behind. We need safe injection sites. We need a secure supply. I love the PACT (Police And Crisis Team) team here. I absolutely love the PACT team. They’re wonderful people, but that should be mental health responding to those calls,” she said.
Jasper hopes that in five to 10 years there will be no shame in being an addict and that it will be treated as a health issue where those struggling with addiction can get medical help and not just be thrown in jail .
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