The Federal Government, in refusing to endorse the Vienna Declaration, once again demonstrates that ideology trumps evidence when developing public policy.

The official statement of the XVIII International AIDS Conference is the synthesis of decades of scientific research by international leaders, including the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. It has received more than 14,000 endorsements, including that of the BC Association of Social Workers.

But because the recommendations discredit almost every policy adopted by the Federal Government, as it marches forth with its version of the exquisite failure known as the “War on Drugs,” scientific evidence has been forced to step aside.

The BC Association of Social Workers supports the opening statement of the Vienna Declaration that “the criminalization of illicit drug users is fuelling the HIV epidemic and has resulted in overwhelming negative health and social consequences.”

Social workers witness the effects of regressive drug and health care policies every day. They see how the criminalization of drug use has prevented many of their HIV-positive clients from accessing the continuous health care and treatment they need. When individuals do get access to supportive services or treatment, it is often disrupted when persons are arrested or, in many cases, because they are hiding or on the run. 

Many people who use drugs have mental health issues and may be using substances to self medicate. Many have been exposed to HIV through injection drug use. They have been forced to inject in unsafe environments and under risky circumstances precisely because they are engaging in criminal activities. Access to safe injection and consumption sites will assist them in accessing mental health support which can go hand in hand with addressing their substance use issues.

With the recent evidence we have seen regarding new infections among Canadians who use injection drugs, our federal government should be developing an urgent response which includes safe injection and consumption sites with a range of supportive services for those at risk.

Instead, we see the Harper administration using public money to try to shut down this entire approach to a health care crisis. The latest of these appalling actions—or lack of action—comes with the news that our government refused to support the Vienna Declaration coming out of the XVIII International HIV/AIDS conference. Their decision comes at a huge cost.