(The following letter appeared in the letter section of The Province newspaper)
Forget harm reduction, let's have dope reduction instead
By G. Phillip Braun, The Province January 22, 2012
Dr. Anthony Ocana's recent letter to the editor is indicative of the liberal view of drug addiction in this city by a select list of special-interest groups that is turning us into a haven for crack addicts, heroin addicts and other socially destructive behaviours. I am tired of it.
Firstly, Dr. Ocana should under-stand that the media are sup-posed to provide a balanced view of issues. I guess editorialists are now no longer allowed to express opinions in Vancouver, in particular around socially critical issues like drugs because we wouldn't want to upset people like him.
I always find the so called expert's choice of the words "harm reduction" pathetic when it comes to these programs. Harm reduction? How about some dope reduction!
Secondly, I thank him for his explanation of "fundamentals of neurobiology" for those of us who "don't understand addiction". Sounds like all of us in this town are stupid and Dr. Ocana has all the answers. Every time someone criticizes or has an opposing view of Insite or any of the other drug/ alcohol related harm-reduction programs in town we get branded as unaware, ignorant or need to be better educated on drug/alcohol addiction by people like him.
Frankly, I can do without Dr. Oca-na's form of education. We have ideas and solutions, but, suggesting anything that isn't providing a place to shoot up, provide a crack pipe, free alcohol or explain how it's better to snort heroin instead of injecting it is likely going to be viewed as a suggestion from the "uninformed."
Finally, I find his comparison of a cancer patient to a drug addict an insult. How can he conclude a child with any form of cancer is no different from some crack addict?
Our city and provincial leaders need to start listening to the silent majority. I am sick of the drugs, their effects and the direction the city is taking relative to their bogus harm-reduction programs. Harm reduction is some theorist's view of a utopian response to people who simply don't want to be responsible for their actions.
G. Phillip Braun, Vancouver
http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=c702c015-9962-4106-a142-1ded1a3969a5
1/11/12
Crack pipe giveaway drapes Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
Crack pipe giveaway drapes Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
VCH spends $60,000 on 60,000 pipes
By Mark Hasiuk, Vancouver Courier, January 9, 2012
In the Downtown Eastside, crack cocaine is king. As the neighbourhood's most popular drug, it's used solely or with other drugs such as heroin or methadone. It's a symptom and cause of widespread misery.
All along Hasting Street, a gauntlet of crack dealers flog their wares. "Rock." "Base." "Best rock right here." According to locals, quality varies depending on the dealer and the price. A typical crack "rock" sells for $10. "But most of it's shit," said Allan Diplock, a short, fidgety 42-year-old with thick bifocals whom I met last Friday morning. Standing on a rain-soaked East Hastings street corner, Diplock represents the target demographic for the provincial government's latest harm reduction experiment in the Downtown Eastside.
VCH spends $60,000 on 60,000 pipes
By Mark Hasiuk, Vancouver Courier, January 9, 2012
In the Downtown Eastside, crack cocaine is king. As the neighbourhood's most popular drug, it's used solely or with other drugs such as heroin or methadone. It's a symptom and cause of widespread misery.
All along Hasting Street, a gauntlet of crack dealers flog their wares. "Rock." "Base." "Best rock right here." According to locals, quality varies depending on the dealer and the price. A typical crack "rock" sells for $10. "But most of it's shit," said Allan Diplock, a short, fidgety 42-year-old with thick bifocals whom I met last Friday morning. Standing on a rain-soaked East Hastings street corner, Diplock represents the target demographic for the provincial government's latest harm reduction experiment in the Downtown Eastside.
Vancouver's legalized drug den "Insite" breeds more and more drug addicts
Below are several letters that were published in a newspaper regarding Insite:
(Poster's note: "Insite" is a Vancouver gov't storefront facility where drug addicts go to freely shoot heroin and cracks, protected from the laws by order of the court. There is no encouragement to get them off their addictions)
Insite is failing
By Jan Van Vugt, The Province, January 11, 2012
If the safe-injection site is growing and needs more capacity, it is a sign of failure.
The goal of any drug program should be to reduce harm and help addicts overcome their demons and become productive members of society. This organization seems to enable the growth of the addicted population in B.C.
A success in this type of business would be a reduction in the need for its services.
Jan van Vugt, Abbotsford
http://www.theprovince.com/Insite+failing/5977312/story.html
(Poster's note: "Insite" is a Vancouver gov't storefront facility where drug addicts go to freely shoot heroin and cracks, protected from the laws by order of the court. There is no encouragement to get them off their addictions)
Insite is failing
By Jan Van Vugt, The Province, January 11, 2012
If the safe-injection site is growing and needs more capacity, it is a sign of failure.
The goal of any drug program should be to reduce harm and help addicts overcome their demons and become productive members of society. This organization seems to enable the growth of the addicted population in B.C.
A success in this type of business would be a reduction in the need for its services.
Jan van Vugt, Abbotsford
http://www.theprovince.com/Insite+failing/5977312/story.html
1/9/12
Vancouver health/civil authorities become pimps to drug addicts
(Below are two letters to a newspaper about the Vancouver gov'ts' distribution of free crackpipes to addicts)
'Safety' helps addiction
By Rob Haan, The Province, January 5, 2012
I know a couple of people who have kicked crack and are now productive members of society. I can say for sure, though, they did not accomplish this because someone was handing them free pipes.
Having an environment where addicts are "safer" in their addiction only helps them to stay addicted.
If we make it easy to be a crack-head, what's the motivation to quit?
"Harm reduction" is a joke. Put the money into helping people quit, not helping them to continue.
Giving addicts drugs so they won't have to steal to get them makes as much sense as giving a shoplifter free stuff to get them to stop shoplifting.
Rob Haan, Chilliwack
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/letters/Safety+helps+addiction/5949535/story.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uncaring government
By Sharon Lamont, The Province, January 5, 2012
I think handing out crack pipes to addicts in the Downtown Eastside is just another slap in the face for us taxpayers, not to mention the addicts themselves.
The people down there are sick from a variety of addictions, so should we start handing out free pot or heroin?
Why on earth does the government feel it's their responsibility to keep these people sick? If they gave a damn, they would spend our money on something that would help these people get their hope and dignity back.
Our government talks about how it wants to help the poor and addicted. But they never find the time to do anything, which makes me believe they don't really care.
Sharon Lamont, Surrey
http://www.theprovince.com/Uncaring+government/5949538/story.html
'Safety' helps addiction
By Rob Haan, The Province, January 5, 2012
I know a couple of people who have kicked crack and are now productive members of society. I can say for sure, though, they did not accomplish this because someone was handing them free pipes.
Having an environment where addicts are "safer" in their addiction only helps them to stay addicted.
If we make it easy to be a crack-head, what's the motivation to quit?
"Harm reduction" is a joke. Put the money into helping people quit, not helping them to continue.
Giving addicts drugs so they won't have to steal to get them makes as much sense as giving a shoplifter free stuff to get them to stop shoplifting.
Rob Haan, Chilliwack
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/letters/Safety+helps+addiction/5949535/story.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uncaring government
By Sharon Lamont, The Province, January 5, 2012
I think handing out crack pipes to addicts in the Downtown Eastside is just another slap in the face for us taxpayers, not to mention the addicts themselves.
The people down there are sick from a variety of addictions, so should we start handing out free pot or heroin?
Why on earth does the government feel it's their responsibility to keep these people sick? If they gave a damn, they would spend our money on something that would help these people get their hope and dignity back.
Our government talks about how it wants to help the poor and addicted. But they never find the time to do anything, which makes me believe they don't really care.
Sharon Lamont, Surrey
http://www.theprovince.com/Uncaring+government/5949538/story.html
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