Pubdate: Fri, 17 Oct 2014
Source: Burlington Post (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Burlington Post
Contact:  http://www.insidehalton.com/burlington-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528
Author: Von Jeppesen
Page: 7

CANADA'S ANTIQUATED NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY

Public health departments freely hand out condoms to promote safe sex 
yet when it comes to drug use you're effectively on your own. In the 
case of heroin and MDMA (ecstasy), it will be of little help to the 
victims that the drugs will be analyzed after the fact. The 
misrepresentation of drugs on the black market is perhaps the biggest 
threat to a user because they can't easily answer such questions as 
What's the purity? Has it been cut (diluted) with a toxic substance? 
Is it even what was paid for?

A proactive solution as simple as providing drug testing kits could 
go a long way in preventing adverse reactions and overdoses.

Unfortunately, the federal government views harm reduction strategies 
as promotion of drug use - 'it sends the wrong message'. Apparently 
this message is more important than, for example, preventing an 
experimental son or daughter from overdosing on 91 per cent pure ecstasy.

Illicit drug use is controversial and currently taboo. Since at least 
one victim came from each municipality, clearly it strikes close to 
every home in Halton. Pretending our current policies are effective 
only continues the cycle of risk for people - from the experimental 
individual to the user battling addiction.

I look forward to a day when a government shows true leadership on 
this issue by disregarding ideology and legislates based on the 
evidence and experts.

Von Jeppesen, Burlington
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom