Beyond 2008 Gail Czukar, Executive Vice President, Policy, Education and Health Promotion, CAMH Friday, February 6, 2009

2 Setting the Stage - Canadian Drug Policy National Anti-Drug Strategy (October 2007)  Total of $64 million over two years for three ‘action plans’: Preventing illicit drug use ($10M) Treating those with drug dependencies ($32M) Combating the production and distribution of illicit drugs ($22M)  Led by Department of Justice; also involves Public Safety Canada and Health Canada

3 NADS vs. Canada’s previous drug strategy Policy Shifts  New name – ‘anti-drug’ strategy  Leadership moves from Health Canada to Department of Justice – signals shift of emphasis to supply reduction  No harm reduction pillar  Focus on illicit drugs - does not include alcohol, prescription drugs or abuse of legal substances such as solvents

4 Provincial Drug Policy Context  No Ontario drug strategy  Province working on a mental health and addictions strategy  Many municipalities have drug strategies (Toronto, Ottawa, London) and many communities are developing local drug strategies (Chatham Kent, Oxford)  Newly formed Municipal Drug Strategy Coordinators Network to share information and experience

5 Specific Recommendations for Member States Objective #1 – to highlight achievements of NGOs to the field of drug control 1a)to provide sufficient resources for the full range of drug demand, harm reduction, treatment and social re-integration programs. 1b)to reaffirm their commitment to addressing illicit/harmful drug use as a public health issue and to enhance their commitment to address public safety issues resulting from illicit/harmful drug use, both within a human rights framework 1c)to offer a plurality of services designed to make contact with people who use or have used drugs and their families as well as improve their health and social well-being. 1d)to sustain and enhance those services which through monitoring and evaluation activities are able to demonstrate effectiveness. 1e)to include and fund evaluation as a standard and required element for any project, and publish reports, where possible in an acknowledged journal, lodged with an appropriate library and disseminated as widely as possible.

6 Specific Recommendations for Member States Objective #2 – review best practices of collaboration and improve ways of working with UNODC & CND 2a)to establish and support transparent and systematic mechanisms for engagement and consultation at a national level, including NGOs and those most affected by illicit/harmful drug use and drug policy, when developing policy, strategy and practice guidelines. 2b)to implement national policies and legislation that are supportive of civil society gatherings and discussions. 2c)to support NGOs and seek their contributions on a more systematic basis by including them in matters related to the work of CND when appropriate. 2d)to encourage and support youth groups/initiatives aimed at reducing illicit/harmful drug use and its health, economic and social consequences. 2e)to create or use existing international funding mechanisms to stimulate adequate investment in sustainable, evidence based and/or effective services to reduce illicit/harmful drug use and its adverse health, social and economic consequences.

7 Specific Recommendations for Member States Objective #3 – adopt high order principles be used as a guide for drug policy 3a)ensure that the composition of their delegation to the CND reflects the agenda and functions of the Commission, to facilitate good governance and policy guidance, with an increased focus on expertise related to the reduction of illicit/harmful drug use and its adverse health, social and economic consequences and human rights compliance. 3b)support the efforts being undertaken by WHO, in consultation with INCB and UNODC, to ensure that all drugs classified as essential medicines are widely and readily available to medical practitioners and their patients. 3c)ensure that more attention is given to the needs of those in closed custody settings so that they can gain access to the comprehensive range of interventions recommended by WHO, UNODC and UNAIDS. 3d)to undertake regular policy and practice audits of their drug related activities, using information from a wide range of sources, including their target population, to identify areas for improvement.

8 Specific Recommendations for NGOs Objective #1 – to highlight achievements of NGOs in the field of drug control 1a)to include evaluation as a standard and required element for any project, and reports published, where possible in an acknowledged journal, lodged with an appropriate library and disseminated as widely as possible. 1b)Support continued ethical innovation of new approaches using the full flexibility allowed for in the drug control conventions to build and develop the knowledge base, the workforce and our capacity to respond to reduce illicit/harmful drug use and its adverse health, social and economic consequences.

9 Specific Recommendations for NGOs Objective #2 – best practices of NGO collaboration and improved ways of working with UNODC & CND 2a)to commit to a productive partnership among themselves, with their respective national governments and with key international institutions such as UNODC in order to advance the use of evidence informed, practical and on the ground experience to reduce illicit/harmful drug use and its adverse health, social and economic consequences. 2b)Call for the relationship between UNODC, CND and NGOs to be monitored and evaluated for the results achieved every two years by each party and through a joint monitoring, consultation and planning group, with meaningful NGO involvement and this evaluation should be results-based and reported to the CND as well as the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board for further action.

10 Specific Recommendations for NGOs Objective #3 – high order principles be used as a guide for drug policy 3a)Work together at appropriate levels (sub-national, national, regional or international) to develop and implement quality improvement criteria for their activities, drawing upon work which has already been undertaken in some countries and regions. 3b)Increase transparency and accountability by publishing annual reports including summary financial data, even if not required by national or local legislation. 3c)Undertake regular policy and practice audits of their drug related activities, using information from a wide range of sources, including their target population, to identify areas for improvement.

11 Why is this important to Canadian NGOs?  Impact of international drug conventions on Canadian drug policy and programs. Criticism of safer crack kit distribution and safe injection site in World Drug Report. Canadian government drug policy influenced by dominant views in international drug policy.  If we can influence change in international policies, may result in shifts in national drug policies.  Dialogue can lead to more informed policy and practice among NGOs within Canada and world wide.  NGOs have common issues and a perspective that don’t always get addressed at international levels where the focus is largely on law enforcement (supply reduction).

12 What can we do to influence policy makers?  Continue the dialogue – inform others  How to encourage the Canadian government to support the Declaration and Resolutions Beyond 2008 letter Organize meetings with Health Canada, Department of Justice and Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade What else?

13 What can we do to influence policy makers?  Contact the Department of Justice and/or Health Canada to advocate for the support of the Declaration and Resolutions The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada, The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

14 Other Resources  General Information on Beyond 2008 Vienna NGO Committee Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse  International Drug Policy information International Drug Policy Consortium Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Program