Grant: Project Grant

The goal of this project is to learn more about the social and health effects of decriminalizing drugs in Canada. There are different ways that drugs can be decriminalized, and we want to look at the pros and cons of different models. To do this, we will use a method called "community-based group model building." This means we will work with community members to make a map that shows all the different parts of the drug criminalization system and how they interact. We will then use this map to analyze different policy options for decriminalization. We use a "systems approach," which means that we will study many factors, how these factors change over time, and how these factors relate to (and change) each other. We will produce a detailed, comprehensive, and community-driven policy analysis to guide thinking about decriminalization. We will also use these results to provide guidance about how and what to measure to see if decriminalization is having its intended effects. We will also construct a computer model that will help us understand how different decriminalization policies could play out in the real world. We will work with community members who are most affected by drug criminalization to make sure the map and model reflects their expertise. We will work with community members to see how they can use this information to advocate for policy changes. We will share our findings with government officials, public health departments, police, and the courts. We want to make sure that our findings can help guide the discussion around drug decriminalization in Canada. The team has experience in harm reduction, community-based research, policy analysis, and computer modeling, so we are well positioned to carry out this project.