Abstract：
BACKGROUND: North America and the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, is experiencing an unprecedented number of overdose deaths. In BC, overdose has become the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10-59 years old. In January 2023, BC decriminalized personal possession of a number of illegal substances with one aim being to address overdose deaths through stigma reduction and promoting access to substance use services.
METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study to understand people who use drugs\' (PWUD) perceptions of the new decriminalization policy, immediately prior to its\' implementation (October-December 2022). To contextualize decriminalization within broader drug policy, we also asked PWUD what they perceived as the priority issues drug policy ought to address and the necessary solutions. Our final sample included 38 participants who used illegal drugs in the past month.
RESULTS: We identified four themes: 1) The illicit drug supply as the main driver of drug toxicity deaths 2) Concerns about the impact of decriminalization on drug toxicity deaths 3) Views towards decriminalization as a policy response in the context of the drug toxicity crisis 4) Regulation as a symbol of hope for reducing drug toxicity deaths.
CONCLUSIONS: From our data it became clear that many anticipated that decriminalization would have minimal or no impact on the overdose crisis. Regulation was perceived as the necessary policy approach for effectively and candidly addressing the drivers of the ongoing overdose crisis. These findings are important as jurisdictions consider different approaches to moving away from prohibition-based drug policy.
METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study to understand people who use drugs\' (PWUD) perceptions of the new decriminalization policy, immediately prior to its\' implementation (October-December 2022). To contextualize decriminalization within broader drug policy, we also asked PWUD what they perceived as the priority issues drug policy ought to address and the necessary solutions. Our final sample included 38 participants who used illegal drugs in the past month.
RESULTS: We identified four themes: 1) The illicit drug supply as the main driver of drug toxicity deaths 2) Concerns about the impact of decriminalization on drug toxicity deaths 3) Views towards decriminalization as a policy response in the context of the drug toxicity crisis 4) Regulation as a symbol of hope for reducing drug toxicity deaths.
CONCLUSIONS: From our data it became clear that many anticipated that decriminalization would have minimal or no impact on the overdose crisis. Regulation was perceived as the necessary policy approach for effectively and candidly addressing the drivers of the ongoing overdose crisis. These findings are important as jurisdictions consider different approaches to moving away from prohibition-based drug policy.
摘要：
背景：北美和不列颠哥伦比亚省（BC），加拿大,正在经历前所未有的过量死亡。在BC,过量已成为10-59岁人群死亡的主要原因。2023年1月，不列颠哥伦比亚省将个人拥有许多非法物质合法化，其目的之一是通过减少污名和促进获得物质使用服务来解决过量死亡。
方法：我们进行了一项定性研究，以了解使用药物的人对新的非刑事化政策的看法，在其实施之前（2022年10月至12月）。将非刑事化纳入更广泛的毒品政策，我们还询问PWUD他们认为药物政策应解决的优先问题以及必要的解决方案。我们的最终样本包括过去一个月使用非法药物的38名参与者。
结果：我们确定了四个主题：1）非法药物供应是药物毒性死亡的主要驱动因素2）对非刑事化对药物毒性死亡的影响的担忧3）将非刑事化视为药物毒性危机背景下的政策应对4）法规，以减少药物毒性死亡的希望。
结论：从我们的数据中可以清楚地看出，许多人预计非刑事化对用药过量危机的影响很小或没有影响。监管被认为是有效和坦率地解决持续用药过量危机驱动因素的必要政策方法。这些发现很重要，因为司法管辖区考虑采用不同的方法来摆脱基于禁令的毒品政策。
方法：我们进行了一项定性研究，以了解使用药物的人对新的非刑事化政策的看法，在其实施之前（2022年10月至12月）。将非刑事化纳入更广泛的毒品政策，我们还询问PWUD他们认为药物政策应解决的优先问题以及必要的解决方案。我们的最终样本包括过去一个月使用非法药物的38名参与者。
结果：我们确定了四个主题：1）非法药物供应是药物毒性死亡的主要驱动因素2）对非刑事化对药物毒性死亡的影响的担忧3）将非刑事化视为药物毒性危机背景下的政策应对4）法规，以减少药物毒性死亡的希望。
结论：从我们的数据中可以清楚地看出，许多人预计非刑事化对用药过量危机的影响很小或没有影响。监管被认为是有效和坦率地解决持续用药过量危机驱动因素的必要政策方法。这些发现很重要，因为司法管辖区考虑采用不同的方法来摆脱基于禁令的毒品政策。
