Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2008
Source: West Carleton Review Weekender (CN ON)
Section: As I See It
Copyright: 2008 Ottawa Region Media Group
Contact:  http://www.runge.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4769
Author: Mary Cook
Note: This column also appeared in Arnprior Weekender, Kanata Kourier - 
Standard and the Renfrew Weekender

CURRENT STRATEGIES NO FIX TO DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM

Something is badly out of whack.

People are openly using drugs, the government is paying for their 
paraphernalia, which means you and I are footing the bill.

Millions of dollars across the country are being poured into drug programs 
with little or no impact on the problem.

Municipal governments are crying for treatment centres, users are 
committing crimes to pay for their habits, and some of our most picturesque 
parts of our National Capital Region are becoming eyesores.

They are unsafe and what used to be a major tourist attraction, the market 
area, is fast gaining a reputation of being a place to avoid at any cost.

The needle exchange program is really not an exchange program at all when 
reports say that ordinary citizens have taken it upon themselves to search 
play areas with green garbage bags to rid places frequented by children of 
discarded needles.

These needles are not exchanged ... they are thrown away with no thought 
given to their potential danger to the innocent.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that users are sick people.

Many are unable to kick the habit that is slowly taking their lives.

Communities are screaming for treatment centres.

None are available.

A very good point was made recently by someone who pointed out that if a 
person was suffering from a disease that would be a threat to humanity, 
that person would immediately be put into isolation.

We don't let people infected with tuberculosis mingle with the public.

They are immediately put into hospital for treatment for their own and the 
public's safety. That is the law.

And yet, drug users can refuse treatment. It is their constitutional right. 
Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

The beginning of a drug user's habit starts somewhere.

Many began smoking up while still in elementary school.

With continued usage, by the time they are adults, for many, the drugs have 
such a hold on them, irreparable damage has been done and, without 
treatment, there is no turning back.

They move from soft drugs to the deadly. The addict is born.

And the traffickers and dealers will see that their addictions hold. They 
can't survive without the addict.

It's easy to blame the police for not cracking down on the open use of 
drugs and the pushers.

But we must remember they are hampered everywhere they turn by laws in 
Canada that favour the offender.

There is no doubt many people are occasional users, and never go on to 
become addicted.

Why they need drugs to be the life of the party, or handle the little 
disappointments they face, is another whole issue and remains a mystery to me. 
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