If I were to take billions of dollars if not closer to a trillion and provide an accounting of failure year after year, would you accept that as normal? Well in our land of complacency we have. We have offered one program that distorts the financing of many departments. The cost of policing, social programs not to mention the justice system and over burdened courts. Meanwhile the true resource the medical system that deals with life and death goes underfunded.
I speak of the war on drugs which is a misnomer in title. The real war is a war on drug users and taxpayers. Here we are wasting court time and police resources to attempt to solve a medical and set of social problems by making criminals out of the victims. Present policy drives a thriving illegal business underground where the overlords hide in the shadows. Even when there’s a big bust in a private dwelling it’s the third or forth tier dealer that faces justice. Stop and think the enormous cost of the drugs confiscated were paid for by someone higher up the chain. While I don’t support the present operations, I do support continuing to go after the big money interests that finance the mega drug operations.
Unfortunately law and order still goes for the low hanging fruit.
We as a society separate the drug abuse problem into categories of acceptability. The problems from alcohol abuse and prescription drugs are every bit as damaging as the illicit drugs we deem to be a criminal for possessing. Unfortunately we attach a stigma to one group and let another almost skate. The problem is, we use the heavy hand of the law to treat a medical problem, or as I refer to it as imprisoning the patient. Ask this question, how acceptable would it be to imprison people for a broken leg or type two diabetes?
Then there is the tragic hidden costs of shoving the problem under the rug. Spousal abuse, the social trauma for children who go hungry or suffer the lack the necessities of life due to the cost of substance abuse all consequences of not accepting the reality of the problem. We see some take their own life out of depression or the feeling of helplessness.
We as a society created a homelessness and serious drug problems with the abandonment of those with mental health issues. Not having adequate housing facilities turned many out on the street to be preyed on by drug dealers, pimps and god knows who else.
I believe if we honestly addressed the substance abuse issues and the social problems we face in a realistic manner with real programs targeting the problems rather than the symptoms it would not only solve some of the problems it would save both lives and money in the long run. It is time for government to act. It is time for the public to accept the fact spending endless dollars on a futile war on an inanimate object is a fruitless pursuit and a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Fred Steele
Fred Steele says
Actually peer pressure and a craving to belong is the problem the drug is secondary to the need to belong sometimes. Those addicted to opioid use are victims. First the Corporate pill pushers lied to Doctors who prescribed the poison. The person dying in pain should not have to suffer either my point is we have to revisit a whole series of conventional views to determine thei current relevance
Phyllis Whitten says
Then there is the opposite side of this picture. My husband died in Kelowna ICU just over a year ago after having had several stays in SOH as well. He was in severe pain for many months and it was quite obvious that his time was limited. He was given morphine but not enough to ease his pain for any length of time. When he asked if the dosage could be upped he was told no – they did not want him to become addicted. What a cruelty when actual addicts could go to a center and get large quantities for free.
shiela lange says
Well said Fred -I think there is a general and huge lack of understanding and compassion for those struggling with addictions and other mental health issues. Governments will not move forward on these issues until they feel they have the support of the majority of their voting public.
Bonnie Thompson says
Oh my God, after being a foster parent for 20 years and studying a lot about addiction in order to help the kids in my care I could have written this article but with one exception. I will never use the “Victim” referring to addicts. I had rules to live by in my home and I read it to them. The second one was “For everything you do there is a consequence. It could be a good one one or a bad one or a bad one and that outcome will be because of the choices you make. Good choices bring good things. Bad choices bring bad things, the choice is yours. We also have to make people responsible for their actions and I don’t think anyone forced them to use that first time, that was their choice and therefore not a victim. We the people have to start this change in thinking and Fred you used the word I have always used to describe Canadians, complacent. Everyone thinks there is nothing they can do. “WRONG”.Write letters to your MP and MLA. Not just once, keep writing. Make them tell you what their plan is to help these people. Penticton has made a huge mistake hoping to help the homeless addicts by giving them a roof over their head and food to eat AND letting them use their drugs onsight. (Called wet housing) We now have people moving here from all over the province to make use of the ammanaties! Just 2 nights ago someone tried to break into my shed. When they found out they couldn’t get the lock off they tried to melt the plastic around it. Didn’t succeed as they were scared off but this will cost me $250 plus shipping to repair. This is a daily occurrence in Penticton. We need rebah facilities, not just the phyc ward who will keep them overnight then let them loose again. I talk to many of the homeless and they want help to live a normal drug free life. Under different circumstances this could have been any one of us.
Dave drought says
The powers that be can reduce the horrible costs to humanity, but chances are they know they would not be re-elected. Recently in one area of our province, due to drug od’s, there was NOT ONE ambulance available because of staff shortages for other call-outs. Not the fault of the BC Ambulance Service, they provide a service second to none. Small comfort if your grandchild is out cold at the bottom of the stairs, for example. In a few decades of voting, I’ve only seen one very small effort to clean up the forementioned. Time for our gov’t to step up to the plate. Substance abuse can be dealt with, it just takes a pair, if you know what I mean.