METHODS: The current multi-method study examines people who use drugs\' awareness and knowledge of British Columbia\'s decriminalization model through cross-sectional quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews among people who use drugs from September-November 2022, immediately prior to the implementation of decriminalization.
RESULTS: Quantitative findings show that two-thirds (63%) of people who use drugs were aware of the policy, but substantial knowledge gaps existed about the legal protections afforded (threshold amount, substances included, drug trafficking, confiscation). The qualitative findings suggest that people who use drugs misunderstood the details of the provincial decriminalization model and often conflated it with regulation. Results suggest that information sharing about decriminalization were minimal pre-implementation, highlighting areas for knowledge dissemination about people who use drugs\' rights under this policy.
CONCLUSIONS: Given that decriminalization in British Columbia is a new and landmark reform, and that the success of decriminalization and its benefits may be undermined by poor awareness and knowledge of it, efforts to share information, increase understanding, and empower the community, may be required to promote its implementation and benefits for the community.
方法:当前的多方法研究通过对9月至2022年11月非刑事化实施之前的吸毒人群进行横断面定量调查和定性访谈,检查了吸毒人群对不列颠哥伦比亚省非刑事化模型的认识和知识。
结果:定量调查结果显示,三分之二(63%)的吸毒者知道这项政策,但在提供的法律保护方面存在很大的知识差距(门槛金额,包括物质,贩毒,没收)。定性发现表明,使用毒品的人误解了省级非刑事化模式的细节,并经常将其与监管混为一谈。结果表明,关于非刑事化的信息共享是最少的实施前,强调在此政策下有关使用毒品的人的权利的知识传播领域。
结论:鉴于不列颠哥伦比亚省的非刑事化是一项具有里程碑意义的新改革,非刑事化的成功及其好处可能会因为对它的认识和了解不足而受到损害,努力分享信息,增进了解,赋予社区权力,可能需要促进其实施和对社区的好处。