Pubdate: Fri, 14 Oct 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

COMMITMENT OF A COMMUNITY

Recently, following the death of a friend's son due to an overdose of
fentanyl, I questioned, when will the hurting end?

The answer to that question is still unclear, but hope is emerging
that our community cares and is willing to work together to bring to
an end the epidemic of drug overdose deaths.

In the past, I have complained bitterly about drug use and drug
trafficking in our downtown neighbourhood. But the time has come to
put an end to the blame game and join the growing number of dedicated
people who are earnestly seeking ways to solve the myriad of problems
involved in this terrible ongoing tragedy.

Nowhere has there been greater evidence of the commitment of those
dedicated people than at the public forum on fentanyl held Wednesday
night at Westview high school.

 From community leaders to admitted drug users, hundreds of people
crowded into the Westview gymnasium to hear messages of hope
interlaced with desperate accounts of tragic losses resulting from
fentanyl overdoses.

The forum was co-sponsored by Fraser Health, School District No. 42,
Alouette Addictions, the RCMP, and the City of Maple Ridge, with the
Maple Ridge Fire Department and ambulance service also providing
strong support.

I am certain that nobody in that crowded gymnasium had ever imagined
in their worst nightmares that there would come a time in our rural
community when the impact of drug overdoses would draw such huge
numbers of people.

Like it was said in the Wizard of Oz: "You're not in Kansas anymore, 
Dorothy."

Drawn to the forum out of curiosity and because of past tragedies
involving drug addiction in my own family, I didn't expect to discover
the depth of knowledge, expertise and empathy of the panel members.
Their caring attitude goes well beyond professionalism.

Until I listened to the various panel members speak and later spoke to
some of them, I was more than a bit cynical about any good resulting
from the forum. But that cynicism was replaced with respect and
admiration for the positive approach of every speaker.

In a short conversation following the forum, my friend, who lost his
son due to an overdose of fentanyl, said the forum was excellent and
would help more people understand the nature and extent of the problem.

Still coming to grips with his own grief, he said it was vital to
inform people about the nature of the drugs involved and to let them
know where they can get help.

It does little good to sit in moral judgment of anyone cursed with
addiction to drugs. It really doesn't matter how we got to this point.

What is now important is for more of us to realize that we can play a
role in dealing with fentanyl and other deadly drugs.

We have to become willing to face this challenge and to set aside the
notion that the dangers of drug overdoses and drug use can't affect
our families and loved ones. Even the first use of many of these drugs
can be fatal.

We have to accept that fentanyl and other deadly drugs can and do
affect the lives of everyone in our community, not just the highly
visible drug addicts we see on our downtown streets.

Parents, friends, teachers and loved ones who wonder about their
children must not feel ashamed to ask questions and to seek help.
Alone, we might not be able to solve these problems, but together,
perhaps we can save a few lives.

It's worth the effort.

Contact Fraser Health, the City of Maple Ridge, Alouette Addictions,
the RCMP and many other agencies for help and answers to questions
about fentanyl and other drugs.

- - Sandy Macdougall is a retired journalist and former city councillor.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt