Montrealers Push for the Decriminalization of Drugs in Montreal

Community organizations Spectre de Rue and Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA) – which offers harm reduction methods and support for users held a panel to discuss the harm reduction methods available in Montreal and the movement to decriminalize drugs. 

The panel included Eva Hovington from harm reduction group Spectre de Rue, Emilie Roberge from Spectre de Rue and Laurent Trepanier Capistran from COCQ-SIDA. 

The movement to decriminalize drugs has become more popular as overdoses have surged across Canada.

More than 500 people died of suspected opioid-related overdoses or overdoses from other substances from between October 2021 to September 2022, according to data released by Quebec's Institute of Public Health (INSPQ). The numbers have been growing over the last few years. In 2018, there were 424 and the year before, in 2017, there were 181 deaths. 

Trepanier Capistran said COCQ-SIDA and Spectre de Rue are pushing for the decriminalization of drugs to allow for better support for users and to offer safer use. Safe injection sites have only been legalized and allowed in Montreal within the last few years. These spaces allow for users to test their drugs to confirm there is no contamination, such as the addition of a very potent opioid fentanyl, and that support workers are around to provide naloxone – the opioid antidote, in the case of an overdose.

Safe used was compromised during the curfew in Quebec. During this time, safe injection sites remained open as an essential service during curfew. However, increased policing deterred users from accessing these services at night, generating fears of them getting ticketed or charged with possession.