Harm reduction in policing: responding to persons under the influence of illicit drugs

The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates between 75,000 and 125,000 injection drug users are addicted to drugs that include heroin, cocaine or amphetamines. Over fifteen thousand drug users are estimated to reside in the Greater Vancouver area; 69% have reported sharing needles. The Greater Vancouver region, with special consideration for the Downtown Vancouver Eastside, Canada's poorest neighbourhood and the epicentre for injection drug use (IDU), has a high rate not only of illicit drug use but also illicit drug possession and trafficking. It is estimated that nearly half of Vancouver's IDUs ( 4, 700 ID Us and 1,000 street youth) reside in this area covering approximately ten city blocks. On a day-to-to day basis, police officers routinely interact with individuals that are under the influence of illicit drugs placing themselves at risk not only of potential violent confrontation but also of inadvertently exposing themselves to communicable diseases.