2018 Law Enforcement Roundtable on the Opioid Crisis
Meeting Summary

Introduction

2018 Law Enforcement Roundtable on the Opioid Crisis PDF Version (885 KB)

Canada is facing an urgent challenge to reduce the harms associated with opioids. Much action is taking place across the country to respond to the current epidemic. Sharing information and lessons learned is critical to ensure that our country can develop and implement effective policies, programs, and practices to address the opioid crisis.

In March 2018, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) hosted two back-to-back events on opioids to provide a comprehensive overview of the crisis and to discuss solutions. The first event, the Law Enforcement Roundtable on the Opioid Crisis, focused on the law enforcement efforts to combat the opioid crisis and will be discussed later in this summary. The second event addressed the four pillars of the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS) from a health perspective.

With support from Public Safety Canada, the Law Enforcement Roundtable on the Opioid Crisis brought together representatives from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency, provincial and municipal police services, First Nations police, national organizations and academia, as well as senior government officials, to discuss responses to the opioid crisis. (See Appendix A for a list of organizations represented at the meeting).

The objectives for the day were:

Opening Remarks

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, opened the Roundtable by reminding attendees that individuals of all races, genders, and socioeconomic statuses are affected by the opioid crisis. He stated that it is critical that our response includes supply interdiction by law enforcement and border services. He also stated that law enforcement have a role to play in working hand-in-hand with public health and social services to reduce stigma, increase access to treatment, and address the underlying causes of opioid use disorders.

Minister Goodale outlined the significant investments that have been made by the federal government to improve services, as well as some of the legislation that has been passed to respond to the opioid crisis, including the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act and Bill C-37: An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related Amendments to other Acts. He indicated that the Government of Canada is committed to a comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based response.

Highlights and Key Themes

Throughout the day, presenters shared their expertise with participants, highlighting best practices, challenges, and opportunities. A series of six breakout sessions allowed smaller groups to have in-depth conversations about particular topics and plenary sessions brought the group back together as a whole to share key messages. Themes emerging from the Roundtable discussions are summarized below.

Production

When it comes to production, there are a number of notable observations. China has been identified as the main source country of fentanyl found in Canada. In the Dominican Republic, police investigations in laboratories revealed that pill presses were being used. In Mexico, precursors were found during searches, suggesting that fentanyl is also being synthesized in the country. Domestically, laboratories producing fentanyl have been found in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. Sophisticated, international drug traffickers operated some of these laboratories, whereas others involve "criminal entrepreneurs" defined as individuals who have an expertise in chemistry related to methamphetamines and are transferring their knowledge to develop fentanyl. These laboratories are often identified by tracking the purchase of the substances that are precursors to fentanyl.

Trafficking

While some organized crime groups are dealing fentanyl, large cartels do not play a major role in fentanyl trafficking. Cartels and organized crime operations have large supply chains and distribution networks because they need to sell large quantities of the substances to turn a profit. The logistics of importing and distributing such high volumes mean that only a few groups are able to take on this role.

Because of its potency, fentanyl is moved using other methods. Small amounts of fentanyl can be imported and then cut into other drugs to increase volume. Fentanyl is also easily obtained from the dark web and transported through the regular mail service. Typically, fentanyl traffickers use the drug themselves or are mid- to low-level traffickers. Cartels may not get involved with fentanyl because it is too difficult to eliminate other potential competitors who are able to obtain small, potent amounts and because fentanyl-related cases attract significant media attention, increasing the risk of detection. Furthermore, while authorities are attending to fentanyl related matters, organized crime groups are provided the opportunity to traffic other substances (e.g. cocaine) with less risk of detection.

Importantly, the high profit margins associated with selling fentanyl may entice organized crime groups to become more involved in selling this substance in the future. Fentanyl is favoured by traffickers due to its ease of distribution—it is easy to source and import.

Detection

Multiple conversations examined the difficulty of detecting fentanyl given that it is often shipped to Canada in small quantities. Legislative changes as a result of Bill C-37 respond to this challenge by allowing border agents to inspect packages smaller than 30 grams, which they previously could not do. Enforcement officials indicated that investigative techniques will have to adapt as they are no longer searching for large quantities of a substance to identify distributors; the potency of fentanyl means that small volumes are now of concern.

Penalties

As the opioid crisis continues in Canada, there has been an increase in the number of fentanyl cases heard in court. A database has been established to compile information related to fentanyl cases, including sentencing decisions and expert reports from chief medical examiners (namely in Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia) which  provide coroners statistics on overdose deaths and community impact reports to demonstrate the magnitude of cases involving fentanyl trafficking. Eighty sentencing decisions have been included in the database since 2014.

Prosecution strategies are evolving beyond the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and now include charges under the Criminal Code. To further deter traffickers, charges related to fraud, robbery, and manslaughter are being added. However, it should be noted that it is difficult to convict traffickers of manslaughter because it has to be proven that the trafficker knew a substance could be lethal. Our judicial system must demonstrate an appreciation for the complexity of these situations, suggesting that where dealers indicate that the drug is potentially fatal, they may do so as a warning and not due to a lack of concern for life.

Drug Treatment Courts, where individuals charged with possession are referred to treatment instead of the judicial system, are being scaled up in some areas. There are also efforts taking place inside correctional facilities to provide take-home naloxone kits to individuals before their release. The kits are valuable to those whose tolerance to substances has decreased while incarcerated and are at particular risk of an overdose upon release if they resume pre-incarceration levels of drug use.

Enforcement as a Conduit to Treatment

Throughout the day, participants underscored the importance of police officers' role in connecting individuals experiencing harm and the services that can help. Referring to the practice as "social referral," officers spoke of helping people into treatment not just before and after arrest, but also through interactions they have with the same people regularly. By connecting with individuals they see often, officers can gauge their readiness for treatment and then be the "open door" when they are ready to receive help. Partnerships between enforcement and the health system are also required to ensure enforcement agents can access the appropriate services for their clients when the right moment comes.

For law enforcement to serve as a conduit to harm reduction and treatment services, dedicated resources for enforcement initiatives are needed. For instance, participants mentioned that First Nations police agencies do not have the funding for drug enforcement officers, yet 60% of some communities in Northern Ontario are on Suboxone treatment, indicating a dire need for attention to this issue.

Stigma

Stigma is an enormous barrier to individuals seeking and maintaining treatment; this was highlighted in multiple sessions. Furthermore, there is a predominant focus on "abstinence only" or abstinence-based treatment, which reinforces this stigma. In this sense, stigma breeds opposition to life-saving harm reduction measures. Not only is there a need to address stigma in the medical and law enforcement communities, but also among the general public.

Language is extremely important in addressing stigma. Throughout the day, the importance of using people-first language (e.g. "people who use drugs" as opposed to "addicts" or "users") was emphasized.

Collaboration

Many communities have formed committees or task forces to share information and keep abreast of the evolving situation. These groups, which often include law enforcement, other first responders, people with lived and living experience, medical professionals and so on, meet regularly to review "hotspots" where concentrations of overdoses are occurring to identify areas where a greater government response is required or where additional enforcement training is needed.

Presenters emphasized the importance of establishing these relationships and response mechanisms early on, even if they are not currently needed in the community. Representatives from British Columbia recounted how they were lagging behind the crisis for some time, having taken them more than a year to establish appropriate supports. They urged other jurisdictions, even those not currently experiencing the crisis to the same extent, to plan and establish wrap-around approaches now so that they are able respond efficiently and effectively if overdoses begin to occur. For example, a plan needs to be in place to move health services to areas where there is an increase in overdoses, as evidenced by a spike in emergency department visits or paramedic calls.

Community-based partnerships can also prevent future overdoses. For instance, in New York City, 40 different agencies look at the same map of overdose occurrences to implement intervention strategies. At one point, a fatal overdose in a homeless shelter prompted immediate action. Within 30 days, all shelters in the area were equipped with naloxone and staff had been trained to administer it.

International partnerships are also critical. Information is being shared among the United States, Mexico, Canada and China, and a memorandum of understanding has been established between the latter two countries to address the distribution of fentanyl.

Timely, Accurate, Imperfect Data

A clear understanding of a particular problem is needed in order to respond appropriately. This is exceedingly difficult in the context of the opioid crisis given its complex, ever-evolving nature. Some jurisdictions are making strides in collecting data to get a clearer picture. New York City officials established a partnership where the medical examiner's office provides information on probable fatal overdoses to first responders on a daily basis. This information is typically 90% accurate and, while not perfect, it allows for the identification of pockets of activity so that responses can be rolled out in an expedient manner.

The way information is obtained about substances seized during police operations also needs to change to respond to the current climate. The focus is currently on large shipments, but fentanyl imports often occur in small shipments, so these practices need to be reprioritized. Additionally, the analysis of seized substances can be quite slow unless there is an impending court date. Due to the potential fatality fentanyl carries, results from analyses need to be provided more quickly.

The Role of Community

Presenters spoke to the important role that community plays in responding to the opioid crisis. For instance, the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency has a 360-degree strategy that involves law enforcement, diversion and community outreach. After law enforcement stems the supply of drugs in an area, their role shifts and they provide support to the community in their efforts to take ownership of their neighborhoods and make changes to prevent further opioid-related issues.

Highlights from Breakout Sessions

Breakout 1: Reducing the Stigma

Breakout 2: International Law and Border Security Enforcement

Breakout 3: Role of Organized Crime

Breakout 4: Enhancing Collaboration

Breakout 5: Indigenous Communities

Breakout 6: Legislative Tools

Recommendations

Information exchanged throughout the day allowed officials from across North America to learn about best practices. Discussions indicated that continued investment in enforcement efforts is a critical component to combatting the opioid crisis. Several recommendations for action moving forward were identified. These include:

The day concluded with remarks from the Honourable Bill Blair, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health, who stated that a compassionate and comprehensive, caring approach is required to end the devastation of the opioid crisis.

Appendix A: Organizations Represented at the Roundtable

Abbotsford Police
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service
Anishinabek Police Service
British Columbia Police Services
Calgary Police Service
Canada Border Services Agency
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee
Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Community Addictions Peer Support Association
Department of Homeland Security Attaché
Department of Justice Canada
Drug Enforcement Agency
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Government of Ontario
Health Canada
King's University College
Moms Stop the Harm
New York City District Attorney
Nishnawbe-Aski Police
Ontario Provincial Police
Ottawa Police Services
Peel Regional Police
Peterborough Police
Policing Services and Public Safety Manitoba
Public Prosecution Services of Canada
Public Safety Canada
Regina Police Service
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Statistics Canada
Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police
St. Michael's Hospital/University of California San Diego
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
University of Alberta
University of Saskatchewan

Date modified: