The association between illicit drugs and crime in general has been well established by criminological researchers in Canada and elsewhere in the world. Research has shown that not only are many crimes committed by those who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, but crime, particularly property-related crime, is often committed to obtain money to purchase drugs. Moreover, drug offence have been linked to organized crime operations, street gang activity and prostitution .
The justice-related costs associated with illicit drug use, including expenses for police, courts and correctional services, have been estimated by the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse at about $2 billion annually . This figure climbs even higher when other social and health-related costs, such as medical expenses, loss of productivity and work absenteeism, are taken into account.
Efforts to address crime associated with illegal drugs in Canada have led to the creation of the National Anti-Drug Strategy, launched in 2007. This strategy involves a collaborative approach among multiple government departments and community stakeholder groups and includes three action plans: prevention, treatment and law enforcement. As part of the enforcement plan, mandatory minimum sentencing legislation for certain serious drug offence has been introduced.