3. Drug Issues in CanadaFigure 2: FentanylSource: Rising Phoenix, “Long-Term Effects of Fentanyl” (2025) Why, then, did the Canadian government legalize cannabis despite these circumstances? The reasoning lies in social values that view drug use as a matter of personal freedom, to be addressed through healthcare and welfare support rather than complete prohibition. In addition, legalization was intended to generate economic benefits through taxation and industry development. Based on this perspective, Canada has widely implemented a harm reduction approach, which focuses not on completely eliminating drug use but on minimizing the health risks it causes. Specific measures include needle exchange programs to prevent the reuse of syringes and the establishment of facilities known as Safe Injection Sites, where individuals can use drugs under supervision. Pharmacists also play an important role. For patients with opioid dependence, opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is introduced, allowing them to take appropriately prescribed medication under the supervision of doctors and pharmacists. This reduces the risks associated with impurities found in street drugs, while aiming for safe withdrawal from dependence. Pharmacies also distribute naloxone kits. Naloxone temporarily blocks the effects of opioids during an overdose and helps restore breathing, thus making the distribution of these kits an essential measure to prevent overdose deaths. These initiatives are not limited to large cities but are also being tested in small and medium-sized communities and rural areas. For example, in the interior of British Columbia, mobile consumption facilities and smartphone-based emergency alert systems have been introduced, demonstrating flexible approaches tailored to local needs. Overall, Canada places more emphasis on managing drug use within society rather than eliminating it altogether. However, although harm reduction policies aim to reduce harms, the reality is that health risks cannot be completely prevented. In contrast, Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, and in cities like Toronto where I live, it has become common to see people openly using it on the streets. Looking again at Table 1, we can see that Canada’s drug use rate is very high compared to other countries. In particular, the lifetime prevalence of cannabis use is 41.5%, which is overwhelmingly higher than Japan’s 1.4% and almost equal to that of the United States (44.2%). As shown in Table 2, in addition to cannabis, Canada also has illegal substances such as cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, each differing in legality, addictive potential, and symptoms of intoxication. All of these drugs have negative effects on the mind and body, such as causing hallucinations or strong dependence, but among them, fentanyl which is listed at the bottom of the table, is an especially dangerous substance with extremely high lethality.Table 2: Legality and Risk Comparison of Major Drugs in CanadaSource: Arakawa Times, “The Spread of Drug Problems in Canadian Cities and the Importance of Japan’s Illegal Drug Policies” (June 29, 2025). (Author’s translation) Fentanyl is a type of synthetic opioid developed for medical use, with 50 to 100 times the analgesic effect of morphine, and even a tiny amount can reach a lethal dose. Furthermore, because fentanyl is easily mixed into other drugs on the illegal market, many cases of accidental deaths occur when users unknowingly consume it. In 2016, following a sharp increase in deaths due to drug overdoses in British Columbia, a public health emergency was declared. This situation has since been referred to as the opioid crisis, and it remains a serious social problem today.7
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