Drug-related charges have nearly doubled in N.W.T. since 2020, RCMP say

Drug-related charges in the N.W.T. have almost doubled over the last four years, according to RCMP.

According to data from Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) investigations, there were 46 charges laid in 2020, while so far for 2024 there have been 90 charges laid.

Police acknowledge that not all those charges are necessarily for offences under the CDSA, but could also include some other offences such as laundering money of crime that's related to a drug investigation.

Const. Josh Seaward, a media relations officer for the N.W.T. RCMP, wouldn't speculate on why more charges have been laid this year as compared to a few years ago.

"There are so many factors that affect how many people we're catching, the reasons people use drugs, and in what numbers," said Seaward. 

The N.W.T. RCMP introduced a new divisional drug strategy last year, focused on expanding the unit's knowledge base, better intelligence gathering, and placing priority on disruptive techniques. Police are currently in the process of building a dedicated drug enforcement team for the territory.

Seaward said an increase in police resources is not necessarily what's behind the rise in number of people being arrested.

"For the most part, numbers at the detachments haven't changed dramatically, in terms of human resources. We may be getting more calls about drugs, and we may be getting more information from members of the public who are concerned," he said. 

The type of drug most commonly being seized by RCMP has stayed consistent in recent years though. Cannabis was the most common prior to legalization, and since 2018 cocaine has been the most-seized drug in the N.W.T., up to the most recent data from 2023.

"The primary drug of choice here that causes us problems is still crack cocaine, but we do have some issues with fentanyl, which is becoming more prevalent," Seaward added.

Use of cocaine and other drugs up in N.W.T., according to survey data

Data from the N.W.T. Bureau of Statistics also suggests that cocaine use has become more prevalent in the territory over the last decade. 

Survey data from 2012 found that the percentage of people in the territory 15 or older who reported using the drug was 10.5 per cent. Data from 2018 and 2023 put that figure at about 16 per cent. 

Use of meth, ecstasy and hallucinogens also saw similar increases over that period, according to survey data. 

N.W.T. territorial statistician Jeff Barichello said their surveys work with a much larger sample size compared to national organizations, to get the most accurate data possible for the territory. 

"Because it has a larger sample, the estimates will be less prone to fluctuations, meaning that you can get data out on a finer level," said Barichello. 

The last voluntary survey was conducted between May and August 2023, and had 1,192 responses, Barichello said. People in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Inuvik received letters to complete the survey online. Barichello said all other communities were surveyed in person, with each individual survey taking about 30 to 40 minutes to complete. 

The surveys are done every few years on behalf of N.W.T. Health and Social Services. Barichello said individual responses provided are strictly confidential and not shared with the department. 

"They don't even get the individualized results like the identified results. But they do get accurate results, and then they use it for their policy and planning," he said.