Prison needle exchange mired in contradictions
Does harm reduction work? Absolutely. Do needle exchange programs ultimately save people’s lives? They sure do. But what happens when a needle exchange program is offered in a prison?
The needle exchange program being implemented in two federal prisons in Canada, including the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, appears, on the surface, to be a progressive move toward reducing the harms associated with intravenous drug use.
However, when we dive into the details, the program has the potential to have serious consequences for those who engage in it. While the operational details are still being hammered out by Correctional Service of Canada, we can critically analyze the potential traps prisoners may fall prey to if they choose to participate in the program.
People who engage in the needle exchange program run the risk of being under heavier surveillance, which could include “random” urinalysis tests, risk of losing support for parole, and being subjected to more harmful strip searches. They may also end up in segregation or being “maxed out” for being found with drugs, which can have profound implications on their trajectory to freedom and liberty. This program also has the potential to disproportionately impact Indigenous women, women of colour and those with mental health issues as they are already under increased surveillance due to discriminatory beliefs and practices.
This program, while encouraging at first glance, is mired in contradictions, not the least of which, is the Correctional Service of Canada’s zero-tolerance policy for drug use. Policies, directives and standing orders have been specifically implemented to eliminate drug use in prisons, yet this program acknowledges that this zero-tolerance policy is not working. This contradictory program is going to cause immense confusion for staff and prisoners alike, and, unfortunately, the ones who will suffer are the people who would benefit the most from this harm reduction program.
Rather than introducing a new program inside the prison walls, it would be most beneficial to allow individuals who want to participate in a needle exchange program to access community-based supports from agencies that specialize in harm reduction, rather than relying on prison staff who have been specifically trained to focus on security and the elimination of drugs. Correctional Service of Canada’s mandate is to prepare prisoners for reintegration into the community so providing these opportunities in the community will facilitate this process.
If this program is implemented in the prisons as intended, I encourage Correctional Service of Canada to provide clear and transparent directions to staff and prisoners about the process for utilizing the program as well as the consequences for engaging in it. I also urge Correctional Service of Canada to hire an external consultant to conduct a fair and unbiased evaluation of the program.
Jessica Hutchison is the regional advocate for the Ontario region of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and a PhD student at Wilfrid Laurier University.