title: Drug policy in Canada--the way forward.
abstract: This article is one of a series commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, discussing past developments and future directions in areas of policy and law related to HIV/AIDS. It takes a critical look at Canada's drug policy. Despite calls for a balanced approach focused on reducing drug-related harm, Canada's method of dealing with problems of illicit drug use has remained prohibitionist in nature, and by far the greatest part of federal funding is devoted to supply-reduction initiatives. Considerable changes in policy and law are needed to significantly reduce the harms associated with injection drug use in Canada. These include developing a comprehensive and integrated strategy, exploring alternative legal frameworks, piloting innovative approaches to reducing injection-related harms, and investing in broad social policies that address the determinants of injection drug use.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: O'Briain
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006291:Health Policy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug