Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
put your own thoughts together.
If there is always going to be drub abuse, why not accept that (in the way that you have) and decide to lower policing, judicial, medical and societal costs with what is a relatively small investment, mostly from the province and federal government?
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Because drug abuse is never self contained. It preys on society and spreads like a disease. If an addict's average life once addicted is 10 years these clinics might add 5 years to that. I honestly can't see it doing much better than that.
That 5 years will be spent stealing from stores and family members if they still have contact; It will be 5 extra years of providing discount sex for anyone who will get you high or give you a few bucks; 5 more years of welfare payments and food kitchens; 5 more years of them dealing drugs or acting as mules for their drug dealers: 5 more years of in and out of jail and in and out of hospitals/clinics because you've been beaten up or you have gotton another STD; 5 more years of family dreading to get that phone call that tells them that little Johnny or little Jane finally finally finished killing themselves through the drugs or through the places they go and the things they do to get the drugs.
Easy access to drugs does spread it faster. Police not only are instructed to leave the clinic alone but also access to and from the clinic. That gives drug dealers a safe zone which I'm sure they use.
I realize within that 5 extra years the person might find whatever they lacked in the first 10 years to get off the drugs but, that is a faint hope and put up against the damage they do isn't a good investment.
Also, access to information on treatment programs is everywhere. It is at the walk in clinics and hospitals. It is offered at social services and at every stop in the legal system. There are people reaching out to them at the soup kitchens and homeless shelters. You don't need a police free zone/shoot up gallery in order to get that message out.