Thank you to Pat Bavis for the well-written commentary related to the ever growing problems surrounding addiction that communities face.
As often happens, good intentions create unintended negative consequences, and the attempt to de-stigmatize drug use seems to be morphing into the normalization of drug use. I am deeply disturbed by this trend, not only for citizens of all walks of life, but more on the message being sent to young people, in particular vulnerable young people.
How reassuring to hear B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth tell us that the diversion of safer supply drugs by organized crime isn’t widespread. Wow. So let’s just increase the safer supply, and put more of it out there, and then act surprised when we see gangs growing their business of diverting these drugs.
Enough already. Stop normalizing and start figuring out how we can fund serious long term treatment and rehabilitation for people. I would hazard a guess that if all the resources going into various aspects of addiction were totalled, the sum would be staggering, and would make the costs of true long term treatment seem like a bargain.
Karen Spier
Campbell River