Winnipeg police have launched a 10-day enforcement initiative targeting open drug use, saying it is intended to deter public drug use, disrupt drug trafficking, and connect people struggling with addiction to support services.
Chief Gene Bowers said the move is aimed at addressing open drug use “where it creates harm,” and that addicts would be connected with health services, outreach teams, and community partners. Police were not criminalizing addiction, he said.
The Winnipeg Police Service has recently seen a significant increase in open drug use and drug trafficking in public places in the city, according to a June 26 news release.
Police launched the initiative in response to complaints received over several months about a rise in the use of fentanyl and other drugs in bus shelters, parks, and other public spaces, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said during a police press conference on June 26….