Pubdate: Fri, 02 Dec 2016
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Sandy Macdougall

JUST LIKE SODOM AND GOMORRAH

We've now had a few years of the low-barrier, harm reduction approach
to solving or coping with our widespread illicit drug use epidemic.

Maybe it's now time to review what has been accomplished.

Almost every public health official, provincial housing authority,
city councillor, police officer and drug counsellor in this province
openly acknowledge the growing tragedy of drug overdose deaths in
British Columbia.

According to Minister of Health Terry Lake, so far this year, more
than 600 deaths in this province are attributable to overdoses of
illicit drugs. He also cited the use of fentanyl as one of the leading
factors in this tragedy.

Despite all the talk and wasted money, people are dying in ever
increasing numbers.

The low-barrier, Housing First approach didn't save any of these
lives, but the government keeps pouring money into non-effective,
so-called harm reduction programs.

We now have safe injection sites, and one could be coming soon to a
neighbourhood near you. We'll also have supervised injections sites. I
guess the next logical step in this goofy pattern is home delivery of
free drugs with nursing supervision.

Ah, but all hope isn't lost. Lake is lobbying Ottawa for greater
support from the federal government to help deal with our botched
approach to the epidemic of drug deaths related to the use of illegal
drugs.

The do-gooders, hand-wringers and poverty pimps who rely on drug use
and drug abuse as their reason for being will all tell you that we
need to spend even more money to help them continue in their failed
attempts at salvation for drug and alcohol addicts and those suffering
from mental health illnesses.

Obviously, at our own local level, doing nothing is not an option, but
the answer won't be found by spending more money and adding more
bureaucrats to the public payroll.

There must be an expanded dialogue between various federal, provincial
and local authorities and the public who pay the bills. That process
must begin with a new approach that isn't mandated by the prevailing
one-size-fits-all policy.

Although drug use, petty and major crime and other related matters are
garnering all the headlines, there are a couple of other major issues
which reflect a serious decline in the moral fiber of our
communities.

We have a large casino, which city council lusted after because of the
huge cash inflow to city coffers. We also have lottery outlets in
almost every retail outlet in the province.

The upside cash flow from gambling frequently trumps any discussion of
the moral issues involved, but there are too many undeniable tragedies
unfolding in our community everyday as a result of addictive gambling
habits that can't be ignored.

We also have liquor available in every corner of town. There are
thousands of seats in bars, restaurants, pubs and other establishments
which allow serving liquor. Liquor is also available in grocery stores
and possibly will soon be available even in barber shops.

There is a terrible immorality in the city's lust for revenue from
these sources. We're already paying for the social clean-up and
downside of these revenue sources and the bills keep growing

We are now confronted with broken families, ruined lives, drug
addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, deaths and gambling addictions
and, without a change in attitude, the numbers of people currently
affected are only going to continue to grow.

With the attitude of the provincial government and city councils which
encourage and promote these questionable revenue sources, we seem to
be well down the road to becoming a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.

If we are seeking moral and ethical leadership, I think we all got on
the wrong train.
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MAP posted-by: Matt