Editor:
I am so sad and mad at the ongoing drug problems in our society today. There has been a massive waste of life happening.
Addiction is a major problem, whether started by personal choice or prescription referral. Let’s not focus blame with the users, but rather help those addicted regain their lives and put an end to this easy drug-availability problem.
Drug dealers and suppliers need to be harshly dealt with. Stop drugs from entering our country from sea and land ports and get the homemade drug dealers here.
I realize there will be people who think drug users should just stop using as they made their own choice, but they do not know how difficult that is or their situation and how it all started.
It could have started from trying to escape an abusive situation, mental illness, a prescription from a doctor for pain or their own poor choice to try. Then, they got hooked.
The government also has made poor choices over the years in closing facilities for the mentally ill. There are not enough homeless shelters or housing available for them. It is difficult for drug users to get good private help unless you have lots of money. The free government rehabs are difficult to get into, with huge waiting times, and the recovery houses are just revolving doors. It is discouraging for them; they lose hope. They can end up in emergency and plug up that system, too.
If you don’t like what you see on the streets, then speak up to government to do more. What if you or your child came to have a drug or homeless problem? I cannot believe how many people I’ve met or know that have children either stuck in this horrid drug cycle or, worse, they have died.
Once you are more aware, you start to see the sad users in the shadows everywhere. These people need help and services.
There is a new, free outpatient opioid agonist treatment clinic that opened in White Rock in December. It is at White Rock Mental Health and Substance Use Services-Russell Annex, Peace Arch Hospital, 15521 Russell Ave.
For self referral, call 604-541-6844 or 1-866-624-6478. Services are free regardless of where one lives. They can provide prescribed medications for opioid treatment and/or connections to psycho-social support. The public needs to be aware of this free available service to perhaps help themselves, someone they love or even someone they just know.
V. Connolly, South Surrey