Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jan 2018
Source: Expositor, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2018 Brantford Expositor
Contact: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/letters
Website: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1130
Author: Emile Therien
Page: A4

TREAT DRUGS AS A PUBLIC-HEALTH CRISIS

An insignificant number of Canadians use illicit drugs. Less than four
per cent use them and less than two per cent have a problem resulting
from hard drug use, notably, heroin and cocaine. The consequences,
which can include death and over-dosing, place a heavy social and
economic burden on society.

Let's start by understanding what motivates people, and especially the
young, to use drugs. Programs that address the reasons for the
behaviour are far more likely to work.

That said, it is about time we start treating drug use and drug
addiction for what it is: a public health problem with the priorities
being treatment, rehabilitation and harm reduction.

I think that all drugs should be decriminalized, not unlike alcohol
and tobacco. Think of the revenues that would flow to governments from
this!

It has been estimated these revenues total more than $2 billion a
year, most of which now flies in the pockets of criminals and
organized crime.

Emile Therien Public health and safety advocate, Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Matt