Warning: Graphic content Canada’s federal prisons will begin issuing safe supplies for inmates to use while taking illegal narcotics. An internal notice of the change issued to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) employees was posted on social media on Sept. 22, detailing plans to issue paper straws and foil for “safer snorting.” The notice said the straws will “reduce harm” by “lowering the risks of cuts or tears inside the nose,” reduce the risk of blood-borne infections spreading and “provide a safer option for snorting, recognizing that overdose and toxicity risk remain.” Prisoners will be given access to drug testing strips for fentanyl, benzodiazepine and xylazine. CSC confirmed the strategy in an email to CTVNews.ca on Monday. “(CSC) maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the introduction of illicit drugs in its institutions,” spokesperson Laurence Cote told CTVNews.ca in an email on Monday. “We are aware that despite our best efforts, illicit drugs still enter facilities.” “Harm reduction measures allow CSC to be better informed of offenders’ consumption reality, their needs and will help CSC direct offenders to the programs they need to address their addiction problems,” the email said. According to a CSC report in May 2025, a majority of men entering prisons reported an ongoing substance use problem. Between 20 and 22 per cent of men entering prisons reported “a lifetime history of injection drug use,” as did 27 to 29 percent of women, according to the same report. CSC offers services for treating substance use beyond harm reduction tools, including treatment, psychoeducation and general support. They reported the number of inmates on an opioid treatment program at 3,431 in December 2024, a spike of more than 370 per cent from 920 inmates in December 2016. They also run a needle exchange program to supply users with clean syringes. CSC reported 537 inmates using the program in late 2024. Poilievre calls for ‘zero tolerance’ Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took to social media to criticize CSC’s harm reduction efforts on Sunday. “The Liberal government helps (drug users) do dangerous, addictive drugs in prison that make them even more violent when they come out,” he said. He proposed returning to a “zero tolerance for drugs in prison” policy, saying “drug criminals must undergo regular drug tests to earn release, and isolation for prison drug kingpins.” “Drug-free prisoners will focus on skill-building and rehabilitation so they can be good citizens on release,” he added.
