I just finished reading The podunkian’s topic of Safe injection sites and it get my blood boiling real bad. We must get proper treatment center and detox so these individuals can have the chance to make a break and live a free life. I do not believe shooting Gallery is the answer such as metadon when used accordingly it works but very hard to get away from because it gets into your bones and also people sell it to carry on their own habit and we all know the real addict will find every way to scam you and I plus the government.
yea ive never understood the injection site idea? its illegal so why help people with it get them off of it. ive never been close to anyone on “hard” drugs that i know about anyway. but i think the money is better spent on getting someone off of it instead of helping them
Well I have seen it and lived it, in this town I have seen people destroyed by the hard drugs very talented and once secure people who lost their homes, family and dignity. The dealers do not give a shit who they destroy along their way. This town crawls with wan-na-be criminals and so many addicts. There are young kids getting lost in this world of darkness.
yea i know this town has its drug problems . hear it quite often . hope it clears up as i have young kids . ill do my best to keep them away as they get older
The Four Pillars program has been successful in Europe and Canada:
The four pillars of Vancouver’s drug policy are:
PREVENTION
Promoting healthy families and communities, protecting child and youth development, preventing or delaying the start of substance use among young people and reducing harm associated with substance use. Successful prevention efforts aim to improve the health of the general population and reduce differences in health between groups of people.
TREATMENT
Offering individuals access to services that help people come to terms with problem substance use and lead healthier lives, including outpatient and peer-based counseling, methadone programs, daytime and residential treatment, housing support and ongoing medical care.
HARM REDUCTION
Reducing the spread of deadly communicable diseases, preventing drug overdose deaths, increasing substance users’ contact with health care services and drug treatment programs and reducing consumption of drugs in the street.
ENFORCEMENT
Recognizing the need for peace and quiet, public order and safety in the Downtown Eastside and other Vancouver neighbourhoods by targeting organized crime, drug dealing, drug houses, problem businesses involved in the drug trade, and improving coordination with health services and other agencies that link drug users to withdrawal management (detox), treatment, counseling and prevention services.
I agree with all of that but the reality of it all being an ex user myself and remembering the shit I did and my peers were doing to get high or down. There are so many scammers out there in the drug world and the system as well. Just like this issue of homelessness in town, there are maybe three such people but there are so many who couch surf with friends or relatives , they get welfare check using the address where they are staying and need not pay rent then they move on to some other address next month and do it once more only to spend their money on recreation. That is part of thge reality. But yes if the programs are administered properly with rules in place go for it.
It is so sad that even the “homelessness” issue is becoming almost the “in” issue to “armchair quarterback” when in reality and I agree with Justin Case, the problem is not as prolific as people are made to believe in Rupert. Yes, we have a problem with finding low income homes for those on Social Assistance and even working folks trying to maintain some degree of security for their families. The rents in this town are outrageous, we have Digby Towers which has been sitting empty except for one tenant for over a year now and the same for Sherbrooke Gardens. Not much has been done and yet the utilities are being paid to maintain that one tenant! Point is and as Justin Case has said, people are scamming, moving from one couch to another, claiming rent at address and moving on when the welcome wagon runs dry. It is an issue that amongst many others, Social Services should take a long hard look at what is happening out there and where the taxpayers money is being spent. Big Job? You bet, but it has to start somewhere…
I’ve considered all of your opinions yet have to bring to the discussion that it’s in the gray area for me.
Even though what they are doing is bad it’s in a “safe” place. Sanitized equipment and professionals helping them. I’d take that over a rusty disease covered needle given to them by that $5 fun time then left in the alley for dead 'cause the $5 fun time started freaking out (because of the OD that he or she just gave them)
Yeah, they do need help.
Yeah they do need to get off this crap.
Yeah it’s not really a good idea to be an enable.
But
I’d rather them be doing it in a safe place.
I’d rather them be doing this crap with sanitized equipment.
I’d rather them be an a public establishment where, if they go over the limit, they can be easily helped.
The topic of drugs and stuff is the worst in the first place.
Yeah , I agree that it is a safe place for injecting but they must have the added component of nurses and I believe someone equal to a doctor, I am not sure on that one though. They continue shooting and when the government of the day decides to shut them down , they are back in the streets and back alleys. Still never addressing their adiction. The government or anyone that does grants are never consistent. Addiction must be dealt with because of the domino effect it has with families wives, children.