Pubdate: Wed, 21 Dec 2016 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Mark Moore Page: A11 IN THE SHORT TERM, PROVIDE SAFE DRUGS Re: "New toxic drugs add to overdose crisis: coroner," Dec. 20. What has been done so far has been ineffective. What is being proposed will not stop this unprecedented amount of dying in any reasonable time frame. Agreement between the RCMP and their Chinese counterparts is unrealistic. The border will always be somewhat porous. Such agreements won't produce quick and lasting results. Adding treatment beds and counselling is long term. Adding to the resources for first responders is playing an expensive, and likely ineffective, game of catch-up. Has consideration been given to, on a temporary basis, providing safe drugs at no cost to those who are dependent upon them? And providing safe drugs on a cost-recovery basis for those who admit to wanting them for recreational purposes? This will go against all established drug policy and laws, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The federal and provincial governments must understand that this is a crisis tantamount to a virulent epidemic, and act accordingly by developing new measures. And it must be done immediately. Only this sort of an emergency response will save lives in the short term, and will allow the longer-term remedies time to work. It will also cut off the criminals' revenue and probably save a ton of money associated with current responses. Mark Moore Duncan - --- MAP posted-by: Matt