addiction

And for many I expect they see this as a separate issue, it is in a way, but I am seeing tents being set up in front of businesses who know they are not opening here.  People complain and complain.  People want police to enforce rules? When did police respond to issues of homelessness and addiction well?  If the one setting up a tent, even if the city doesn't like the look of it, while on private property of a business knowing it has none (possibly meaning they are empathetic), is it, people don't like what they see? Fair question, but why?

And those supports mean only so much, but what do you do with someone who just simply refuses. I, personally, don't judge, yet many seem to, I learned a long time ago, even if it's beyond sense, some just do what they feel they must, and when in this instance, many are vulnerable, why add into what makes them feel vulnerable?

earthquakefish wrote:

Appreciated, in response.  I'm not in BC, but I read the Tyee often.   I couldn't read the response for days, so I'm sorry for the length in delay in response.

I just wish I knew, what I feel, is the acceptible amount of people being hurt from ongoing restrictions for covid.  Somewhere, someone in health/government must be having this dicussion, and media simply focuses on numbers. It would be easier, if they just said, for now we don't care how many die from outlying issues (all too prevalent to be outlying) as that would be honesty, but what would it mean?

Toronto put up hotels for those needing shelter, many did take, residents complained about the disparaging people they saw, and others suffering didn't trust the support.  Possibly the best anecdote, to not support Quebec's unilateral curfew, courts dismissed,

The Tyee did make a beautiful piece in news remembering what journalistic documentary art is and showing the images of those hurt, their stories and some of them are way beyond while who can adjust are beyond living in a time with a pandemic when almost everything else is okay

JKR wrote:

earthquakefish wrote:

Do these lives no longer matter?  I am sorry, but many who argue for harder lockdowns, either ignore the plight of people already suffering, and ignore the obvious question existentially?  How many, who didn't die of covid, you want to die? If the discussion is not allowed anymore, the plight of that conversation needs to be had.

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2021/02/11/Thousands-Dead-Overdoses-BC/

Fighting one illness to recreate how society looks the other to those vulernable, I doubt many want to say they were righteous in slamming government. When they don't have an answer, for where these people are to go.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, is right about both the COVID crisis and the overdose crisis. The solutions to the overdose / poisoned drug crisis include:

- decriminalize the use of drugs

- provide more overdose prevention sites

- provide safe drug supply 

- provide prescribed replacement substances.

- early childhood supports

- address homelessness and poverty

- increase social housing

- increase social assistance rates

- more treatment options

 

Provincial Health Officer's Special Report; Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of People who Use Drugs in BC