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While Metro Vancouver Transit Police say open drug use is becoming more common on and around transit, one advocate questions the phenomenon and says it’s likely indicative of greater systemic barriers.
Cst. Amanda Steed, media relations officer for Metro Vancouver Transit Police, says officers have seen an increase in open drug use on and around transit over the past four years, as part of a general trend across Metro Van.
This apparent increase has come coupled with an uptick in calls to officers from transit passengers who feel unsafe or are concerned for someone else’s wellbeing, Steed says.
“We understand seeing drug use close to stations and on vehicles, like the SkyTrain, can make passengers feel unsafe,” she said. “We know, at this point, that possession of small amounts of illicit drugs is not a crime anymore with decriminalization, but consumption of drugs on transit is prohibited.”
Transit users at a SkyTrain station in Vancouver tell CityNews they’ve also noticed an increase in drug-related activities during their commutes, and worry about the impact it will have on children on board.
Steed adds the 1,800 square kilometres of Metro Vancouver’s transit system is a vast area to cover, and transit police staffing levels are at their maximum capacity. But she thanks those passengers who continue to text or call the force when they see something they think requires assistance.
However, Vince Tao, a community organizer with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, says he doubts people are actually going onto transit to use drugs.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the people who use drugs cannot get onto transit because it costs a lot of money, so I’m not entirely understanding the premise that people are spending money to go on transit to use drugs,” he said. “It doesn’t make any logical sense.”
But if people are using drugs on transit, Tao says it’s likely not because they want to.
“I think the causes are pretty simple,” he said. “There are not enough places for people to use drugs.”
Referencing an Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) that was recently closed and re-located in Yaletown due to community concerns, Tao says the province continues to fall short on offering safe spaces for people to use drugs — especially if they’re smoking them.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the existing OPS are facing a lot of barriers or challenges to opening outdoor consumption sites, where people can smoke safely,” he said.
“As long as we continue to face those barriers… people are going to have to use somewhere.”
As the eighth anniversary of the toxic drug crisis nears, Tao says officials need to step up to the plate and do a better job listening to drug users when it comes to addressing systemic issues like this.
“We should be thinking proactively… the way we keep people safe is by providing viable options for them to smoke safely in a space that may not be as problematic as on a bus,” he said.
“Let’s address the root causes of what’s happening…. not this downstream symptom of that core issue.”
With files from David Nadalini.