the NB Post: Vancouver's legalized drug den "Insite" breeds more and more drug addicts

1/11/12

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 >>>
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Rehab first
By Janis Schram, The Province, January 10, 2012
I read with disbelief that the group that runs Insite for supervised injections want another site. What does that tell us? With 12,000 registered users - and growing - we need to get a hold of the problem and put the money into rehabilitation. When the needles are free, they will come. It is using a Band-Aid to create an even bigger problem. We should give our heads a shake and figure some-thing out that is going to benefit these people, not enable them.

Janis Schram, Surrey
http://www.theprovince.com/story.html?id=5971354
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Hookers next?
By Bozenna Siedlecka, The Province, January 10, 2012
How can anyone in their right mind say Vancouver's approach to drugs has been envied by other jurisdictions? It can only be envied by drug addicts, nobody else.

If other jurisdictions envy what is going on in Vancouver's Down-town Eastside, why don't we see it duplicated elsewhere? I suppose that sooner or later sex addiction will be cured by delivering free prostitutes to sex addicts as well.

Bozenna Siedlecka, Port Moody
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/Hookers+next/5971355/story.html?id=5971355

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Letters to various newspapers

(A letter in the Vancouver Sun, 11/22/11):
Calling marijuana a 'healthy sin' is irresponsible
Re: 7 healthy sins, Nov. 12

I was dismayed The Vancouver Sun would publish Randy Shore's article asserting that the use of marijuana is a "healthy sin."

Should a family newspaper advocate the use of an illegal substance linked to lung cancer and mental illness?

I have met many people harmed by marijuana use resulting in psychosis, lack of motivation and short-term memory loss. The social costs of accidents, productivity loss, and crime due to marijuana is huge.
--Deborah Harden, North Vancouver

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(A letter in the National Post, Sept. 13, 2010):
Pot is not a harmless drug
Re: A Notable Defector In The War On Pot, Sept. 10.

When did pot start to become a harmless, benign drug? It's easy to point to individuals campaigning for its legalization and totally forget that in the United States, nearly 70% of family abuse problems are related to illegal drug usage, including pot. And its absurd to compare pot to alcohol, as the latter is usually consumed for the flavour. A more likely health comparison can be made to tobacco but if we look around it's not hard to see that product being phased out.

Most people I know are moving toward a healthy life style. They drink in moderation, don't smoke or gave up the habit. Legalizing dope puts us back to the days when drinking and driving was common, smoking was considered normal and family problems, including family violence, were considered to be private matters only.
--Phil Marentette, Calgary

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(A letter in The Province's ChatBack section, 8/20/10):
More meth labs
When the grow-op burns down next door, takes your house out, what are you going to carp about then? Of course, you'll blame the RCMP(police)!

Yes, legalize the garbage and it will create the same life-threatening problems as booze and smokes. But if you think the grow-ops will go away, what about the supply needed for the U.S.? Do you honestly think all the criminal scums will turn to honest work if it is legalized? No, they will just change what they do. More meth labs. -- name withheld
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(A letter which a pro-drug newspaper refused to print):

Re: 'Decriminalization--beyond the war on drugs' editorial, Aug. 28

We're tired of seeing editorials/columns/letters from pro-drug-legalization individuals and policy groups, repeating the same tired, false claims that drug prohibition and the so-called "war on drugs" don't work.

What they should be admitting is: the total failure of the non-extistent "war on drugs"-- de facto drug legalizations -- in Vancouver (the result is the Downtown Eastside, where NO prohibitions exist and the resulting tragic consequences are plain for all to see).

They deliberately ignore the clear successes of the real "war on drugs" in places like Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, most Asian countries, and most Muslim countries; NYC, etc. -- reason why they don't have any "Downtown Eastside". Fortunately, they have never copied Vancouver's legalization's failure -- otherwise, hundreds of "Downtown Eastsides" would now be flourishing throughout the world.
-- Dave I., Vancouver

the NB Post

1/11/12

Vancouver's legalized drug den "Insite" breeds more and more drug addicts

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