Five years sober, Moose Jaw’s Meagan Jasper says British Columbia’s pilot program to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use is a step in the right direction of breaking stigmas and treating addictions as a healthcare issue.  

The three-year pilot in B.C. began on Jan. 31. It would allow a person to carry 2.5 grams of cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine or opioids including heroin, fentanyl and morphine for personal use. Trafficking these drugs or possession for the purpose of trafficking is still illegal in B.C.  

“I can't wait to see what else happens because I mean this is one step in the right direction. There's so much more that we need as well,” Jasper said.  

Jasper recalled her addiction starting at the age of 14. She came from your typical middle-class family and not the stereotypical broken home.   

She said the stigma around drug use and getting help doesn’t just involve the drug user. There is a stigma around their families too.  

“My parents, when they were dealing with me at 14 years old starting my addiction, were afraid to seek help because of the stigma,” Jasper said.   

“So, let alone what it felt like as an addict to finally say, ‘hey, I might need some help’ or the lady that's working as a nurse right now that is struggling with addiction, how does she ask for help when there is such a stigma attached to it?”  

She hopes this pilot program will begin to treat addictions as a healthcare issue versus a criminal one.  

She remembered the first time she went to jail when she was 18 for possession. She said every time she went to jail, she “came out a better criminal,” with her experiences in jail turning her to trafficking.  

“I had a bunch of ecstasy on me. I got a drug charge. I breached because I couldn't stay off the drugs, so I had about 13 breaches,” Jasper commented.   

“So, finally they sent me to Pine Grove at 18 years old and the only thing I came out of there was with more friends to go use with, but not just that, I found that ‘oh I could start selling drugs to these guys’ because it goes for a lot of money out there and I can get it for cheap.”  

She noted, even at five years of sobriety, her criminal record for possession still follows her.  

Jasper feels that decriminalization, with the right supports in place, will save lives. She thinks users will be more willing to use together instead of alone and, if someone overdoses, others will be willing to stick around and seek medical attention.  

She remembers that was not the case when she was using.  

“When somebody went down you threw the NARCAN and then you got the hell out of there because you don’t want to get arrested,” Jasper said.  

Jasper noted that in countries such as Poland where they have decriminalized the possession of illicit drugs have many supports in place to treat drug use and addiction as a medical issue.  

She would like to see Saskatchewan follow B.C.’s example but feels the province doesn’t have the supports needed in place.  

“Saskatchewan's really far behind. We need safe injection sites. We need a safe supply. I love the PACT (Police And Crisis Team) team here. I absolutely love the PACT team. They are wonderful people, but that should be mental health responding to those calls,” she said.  

Jasper’s hope is that five to 10 years down the road there will be no shame in being an addict and it will be treated as a health issue where those struggling with addiction get medical attention and aren’t simply thrown in jail.