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Originally Posted by blankall
The point is that allowing people suffering from addiction to just run free with drug use and petty crime isn't the solution. That isn't the model that worked in Portugal. The correct model involves mandatory treatment, and consequences for not complying with that treatment.
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Portugal does a lot of good things. However there is enough research now that shows that compelling people to enter treatment doesn't really work in terms of treating addiction. Furthermore, B.C. has a massive problem with unregulated substance use treatment facilities (thanks, BC Liberals!), which often scam addicts out of their various benefits (e.g. welfare, EI, etc.). The unregulated facilities that aren't scams often offer programs that aren't evidence-based and are usually lacking adequate facilities and staffing. (Source: I work directly in this industry)
There are private, licensed operators and centres operated by the various health authorities, which are subject to regulations and usually provide better treatment than the unregulated providers. However, the licensed operators are often not affordable and the HA centres have a very limited number of beds. There are also significant wait times to get into these facilities.
If we want to start compelling people to go to treatment, there needs to be better infrastructure in place. Wouldn't you agree that until that infrastructure is in place, we need harm reduction strategies such as safe supply to keep people from dying.
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If you are going to provide safe supply, it should be single doses that are administered on site and part of a mandatory treatment program.
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See above. Additionally there are not enough safe-consumption sites in the province to support this requirement.
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The idea that someone using street drug cocktails of fentanyl, meth, and various other substances really just wants a pure supply of a less powerful drug is pretty detached from reality.
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It's pretty contradictory to state that dealers are acquiring safe supply drugs to resell them AND that there is not significant demand for safe supply drugs.