Pubdate: Mon, 26 Dec 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: D'Arcy Proulx
Page: A16

LEGALIZE DRUGS TO ARREST DEATH TOLL

Before 1973 there were no services for heroin addicts at all except in
prison. Then the NDP passed reforms to health care which permitted
methadone clinics. These were quite radical at the time. The clinic
possibly saved my life as I was then using heroin. I got work and
became law abiding and some of my friends did the same. Many
eventually withdrew off methadone as the years went by and became
"normal" people.

In the last 15 years the powers that be have ignored the lessons of
Portugal and The Netherlands and even the universities that study such
problems. It is now abundantly clear that prescription heroin is part
of the answer along with counselling and/or residential detox for
those who want to be drug free. I don't hear any politicians
advocating for such solutions. As Christy Clark says, "This is beyond
politics." With the introduction of fentanyl (and carfentanil) the
situation is becoming a body count and there is no time for dithering
or "further studies." If there had been action on this 10 years ago we
would not be in such a situation now.

D'Arcy Proulx, Roberts Creek
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MAP posted-by: Matt