To the editor:
Dear Editor: Recently there was an article re: “Closure could lead to deaths."
My questions: How is the problem solved if they just bring their illicit drugs to the supervision site? Yes, I understand there is free drug testing, needle exchange and harm reduction services. Great! But, how do policies of enabling solve the problems?
Would not services directed at detox centres be more effective? I have heard many street people say they want into a detox program in Thunder Bay, but there are no spaces available.
Because drugs have horrific long term side effects, should we not respond to the Ontario premier with proposals for detox centres. Thank you for stating that NorWest received an application to apply for the New HART program.
Do parents want to see their children playing in spaces where addictive behaviour is occurring? Unfortunately, supervised consumption sites are often crime-ridden districts so the premier is right to want to move ALL of these sites in Ontario away from schools, day-cares and playgrounds.
The government of British Columbia started a three-year trial program (which the premier asked the federal government to stop after 1.5 years because it didn’t work) to distribute safe supply – meaning – they gave out free drugs – the drug used is called hydromorphone. "Hydromorphone is a highly addictive drug prescribed to addicts to reduce the harm caused through the consumption of street drugs."
Unfortunately, addicts who are heavily addicted to heroin or cocaine need a higher ‘high’ than this drug, their bodies become tolerant to this drug so they are forced to consume more, or look for a more powerful version. Thus, they took the ‘free’ drugs and sold them to drug dealers. Then the drug dealers sold them to children as safe supply.
Police in B.C. continually confiscated their own ‘safe supplies’ in drug raids, until they communicated to the premier – the program doesn’t work.
Currently, there is a law suit against the federal government, the provincial government and the ‘safe supply’ centre – because a 14-year-old girl died experimenting with so- called ‘safe’ drug.
Finally, the Alberta government several months ago said no to safe supply sites, and have proceeded to set up detox centres. They have already seen a huge decrease in drug overdoses.
Elizabeth Paynter.
Thunder Bay
