bill spearn vancouver police
There is a growing chorus of diverse experts and advocates calling for changes in drug policy as the current approach—prohibition—has been shown to increase the harmful health outcomes for people who use drugs, including fatal overdose. Within the ranks of police, there is a realization that things must change. By their own account, police cannot arrest their way out of this problem; and they share a growing understanding that addiction is a medical health issue, not a criminal justice one.
Inspector Bill Spearn, with the Vancouver Police Department, has been championing this paradigm shift for much of his career. After witnessing the positive outcomes of harm reduction initiatives and the endless cycle of arrest and re-arrest fuelled by our current drug policies, he has become a vocal proponent of drug policy reform. He provides a strong voice for change.
