Media Release
Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health Recommends Converting Cannabis Possession to Civil Offence and
other Harm Reduction Strategies in Presentation to The Senate Special
Committee on Illegal Drugs
Toronto (June 7, 2002): Cannabis possession
should be converted to a civil offence, Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President
and CEO, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) recommended in
his presentation before the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs
in Windsor today.
"Our research indicates that the criminal law has
a very limited deterrent effect on use and exacts a disproportionately
heavy cost on individual users and society relative to the dangers of
the drug itself. While cannabis is not a benign drug and the Centre does
not encourage its use, the research indicates that most cannabis use is
sporadic, or experimental and not likely to be associated with serious
negative consequences," Dr. Garfinkel told the Committee.
The CAMH presentation also supported an increased emphasis
on other "pillars" of a comprehensive drug strategy ø harm reduction,
treatment and prevention including the following recommendations and illustrations
of approaches that have been successful:
- Educate primary care physicians in the diagnosis and
care of substance abuse problems. This will help reduce stigma and ensure
people with addiction problems get the necessary help they require.
- Increase investment in addiction treatment services.
- Increase investment in the evaluation of harm reduction
programs. A study of the CAMH Methadone Maintenance Program showed a
dramatic decrease in heroin use among the people participating in the
program. Rather than encouraging and condoning drug use, such programs
often offer the crucial first point of contact with empathic front line
caregivers.
- Identify and treat young children and youth that have
mental health problems in order to prevent later substance use and abuse
and assess young people with substance abuse problems to determine if
they have co-occurring mental health problems.
- Provide adequate resources to sustain and extend public
education and prevention activities.
Dr. Garfinkel will be available for media interviews following
his presentation. Dr. GarfinkelÕs remarks will be available at www.camh.net after the presentation
to the Committee.
CAMH, a teaching hospital and research facility, has been
recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the World Health Organization.
With its head office located in Toronto and community offices throughout
Ontario, CAMH is the largest mental health and addiction facility in Canada.
CAMH runs clinical programs, supports communities in health promotion
and prevention programs, works with government on policy development and
resource allocation and strives towards eliminating the stigma associated
with mental illness and addiction.
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