Interim Policy Bulletin 733
To facilitate reading in French, the masculine form is used without prejudice to gender, given the binary nature of the French language.
Number: 733
In effect: 2026-03-16
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Why the policy was changed
We amended this policy following the promulgation of Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 585: National Drugs and Substances Strategy and Guidelines (GL) 585-1: Individual Substance Use Framework.
What changed
We added paragraph 16 to the CD to establish a new process to follow after an individual substance use event:
16. After an individual substance use event, the witnessing staff will refer the inmate to Health Services. Then:
- within 30 working days of this referral, the Institutional Head or delegate will receive additional information from both Health Services and the Parole Officer
- within five working days of receiving this information, the Institutional Head or delegate will determine, based on aggravating and mitigating factors, whether to lay a disciplinary charge
- if the Institutional Head or delegate considers that this event has been informally resolved, no institutional charge will be laid, and
- this will be documented in a Statement Observation Report.
As per GL 585-1, an individual substance use event is defined as:
Individual substance use event: the seizure of a substance for individual use, a positive urinalysis result (or a refusal to submit to urinalysis), when an inmate is believed to be in an altered level of consciousness due to substance use, a known or suspected substance use/overdose, the non-medical use of a substance, etc.
How it was developed
We amended CD 580 following the recommendations of the multidisciplinary working group on the implementation of the new Canadian Drugs and Other Substances Strategy.
Who is affected by the policy
This policy affects staff who work with inmates and manage individual substance use events.
Accountabilities
Responsibilities are detailed within the policy.
Contact
Strategic Policy Division
NHQ.Policy-Politiques.AC@csc-scc.gc.ca
Commissioner,
Anne Kelly