βTo assess the impacts of decriminalization we are examining a variety of indicators over time using routinely collected provincial (BC-specific) and National statistics. These statistics will be assessed on an annual or bi-annual basis, based on availability, starting with ten years prior to the implementation of the decriminalization policy (~2012). For each of the proposed indicators outlined below, data will be analyzed using interrupted time series (ITS) modeling which will determine changes in these indicators over time from pre-decriminalization to post-decriminalization.
The following indicators will be examined:β
Health
Emergency Room (ER)/Hospitalizations for illicit substance use Harm Reduction service visits Overdose calls to paramedics Overdose deaths Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) engagement/prescriptions Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnoses Substance use patterns and trends Quality of life
| Police Number of seizures, arrests, charges, and criminal records for personal possession, trafficking, and drug-adjacent crimes (e.g., public drug use) Number of other serious crimes Police and court time and resources spent on enforcement or prosecution of personal possession of illicit substances Number of individuals incarcerated for drug-related offensesβ
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