Drug dead have caused their own demise
Re: Overdose prevention sites and associated crime — Cowichan
I feel that I am partly qualified to express an opinion on both these subjects being a retired police officer from the UK, an osteopath and a researcher.
In Dr. Hasselback’s publication there is a severe play on facts and words that pluck at our civil consciences. He states “that BC Health Authorities have been directed from the Minister of Heath to implement sites where needed.” This sounds like ‘big brother’ tactics which is not so. Vancouver Health via Dr. Kendal have been bombarding the Minister with the numbers of overdose deaths, but calling them victims, as though they were involved in a road traffic accident, whereas they have caused their own deaths by using a narcotic substance that they know will give them the best high ever, but with a good chance of it being fatal.
Yes, safe injection sites (overdose centers) do save lives, but the number is so small it is not worth the time and effort nor the finances involved with regards to these sites. Anyone can Google research these facts. The good doctor goes on to say, “increasing our understanding of drug dependency and the stigma etc.” He forgets to put the word ‘narcotic” or ‘unlawful’ in front of the word drug. Most people in Duncan or anywhere else do not want anything to do with narcotic drugs, and as for the stigma, these individuals bring it on themselves. You want to shoplift in local stores and get caught, put up with the stigma. To put this in perspective, far more people die from road accidents, tobacco smoking and alcohol.
Readers will have noticed the sudden appearance of adverts to purchase naloxone kits at a considerable cost to the purchaser. Who produces this product? Of course it is the pharmaceutical companies. To put this in perspective, there are over 40 different types of fentanyl, all produced in China, and the ‘kit’ only deals with one. A bit like the flu jab.
With regards to Mr. Barker’s opinion, yes, he is quite right in his observations. He is wrong to say it is not safe in Duncan, as it is very safe to wander the streets at anytime. But there is a increase in criminal activity that directly is associated with the narcotic drug trade.
Individuals discuss the merits of decriminalizing narcotic drugs. All this does is take the flack away from the police force by reducing the statistics with regards to criminal offences. Now if you were to legalize and licence the selling of narcotic drugs with a severe tax and divert those funds to social housing, schools etc., that might work. The downside is that the drugs may be too expensive and the addicts will continue their crime spree. Or there is the Swedish formula. Zero tolerance and frighten the hell out of the children at school. (Educate them.)
Dr. Anthony Mathews, retired police officer
Cobble Hill