Quote:
Originally Posted by Igottago
I don't know much about the individual that defied the authorities and ended up OD'ing, but it goes to show that simply attempting to "clean" the supply of drugs, it isn't the best idea, its still leaving addicts (even one apparently spearheading the strategy) at risk. You are never going to make a dent in the problem by giving people easy access to drugs, never, even if you think those drugs are clean, the results are in, come check out Vancouver if you want to see how well the policy has worked. I think the problem here in BC is that there's entire non profit organizations, government agencies, medical departments and careers and reputations built around ineffective strategies. It will take a seismic shift in approach to change things, which probably means a new government willing to dismantle the old ideas. And that is very unlikely to happen in this province.
You have to reduce the supply of dangerous drugs, not just keep them clean and keep distributing it out into the population. I tend to agree with the people that have been saying "safe supply" is a misnomer. There is no safe supply. Its a short sighted strategy, which just kicks the can down the road. For every overdose it prevents, how many more addicts are created by easy access to supply or kept addicted longer than they need to be?
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I don’t even know how much it says about anything, other than addicts flaunting the laws in public in an attempt to force the government to do something is right about where we are.
Addicts, even the ones trying to help others, can barely stay alive. They can’t even help themselves, but there are those of them who understand the problem and are sick enough of it to try to solve it themselves.
You ask how many new ones are created or how many are kept addicted long than they need to be, but against what alternative? Based on the prevalence of the issue, do you really think these drugs are hard to get and easier to get off without safe supply, as it stands currently?
If you really wanted to, you could go get any street drug you wanted to do, right now. And there would be no assurance that it isn’t laced with fentanyl, and zero effort from those you bought it from to curb your addiction in any way (the opposite, actually).
I’m not saying safe supply is THE answer or is able to solve the problem by itself. But I think suggesting that the current situation without safe supply is somehow safer or better overall is just wrong.