Drug Policy Advocacy

KFL&A Community Consultation for Decriminalization is launched. 

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KFL&A Community members were provided with the below invitation: 

Why: The KFL&A Community Drug Strategy wants to know how you feel about decriminalization of substances in your community.

How: Below is a link to our survey. It will only take 10-15 minutes to provide your thoughts.

Who: Anyone who is 16 and over and lives, works, studies, or plays in KFL&A.

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Community members were encouraged to the survey link with all local contacts to reach as many KFL&A community members as possible. The survey officially closed May 19, 2023.

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Response provided by Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

The KFL&A Community Drug Strategy received a response from the Federal Government outlining the actions they have taken in response to the toxic drug supply. You can read their response here. 

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KFL&A CDS will be hosting a community consultation in early 2023. We are hoping to hear from our community members on what they see as concerns and benefits to decriminalization, and what approach they would like to see for decriminalization in our community.

Petition calling for decriminalization of people who use drugs

The KFL&A Community Drug Strategy submitted a petition calling on the Federal Government to:

• Decriminalize drugs for personal use

• Support the provinces in their efforts to respond to the drug poisoning crisis

• Create a dedicated stakeholder-advised standing committee to respond to Canada's drug poisoning crisis that support harm reduction, prevention, and treatment options for people who use substances. ​

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The petition closed for signature on August 19, 2022 and received 899 signatures.

Statement of support for decriminalization of people who use drugs

This statement of support was drafted by the KFL&A Community Drug Strategy Advisory Committee. It states: 

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"The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Community Drug Strategy Advisory Committee supports the call for the decriminalization of people who use drugs. Decriminalization is an evidence-informed approach that will address the unrelenting overdose crisis in our community and will position drug use as a health issue, rather than an issue of morality, willpower or criminal justice."

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This statement reflects the collective voice of the KFL&A Community Drug Strategy Advisory Committee. This statement does not necessarily reflect the positions of the individual member agencies. 

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To date, the following agencies have endorsed the Statement:

• KFL&A Board of Health

• Kingston Community Health Centres Board of Directors

• United Way-KFLA Board of Directors

• City of Kingston

• County of Frontenac

Briefing note - decriminalization approaches and evidence

KFL&A Public Health developed a briefing note to help inform partners prior to further strategy advocacy work in this field.