Editor:
Re: Whalley Strip shows effects of fentanyl, Nov. 30.
Another page full of tragedies – with photos: Angela Ryan, a human being suffering, her loved ones suffering, her children suffering.
There are thousand of ‘Angelas’ out there. We have Band-Aid solutions – Narcan, a bed in a shelter, a meal, warm clothing.
What in the world is wrong with us? On and on, we allow humans to destroy themselves.
If a person collapses on the street suffering from any other illness, we call 911 and that person will be taken care of until they are able to take care of themselves.
Under the Mental Health Act, a person can and should be committed if they are a danger to themselves or others. I have been able to gather experience with this law, helping for many years in the field – a blessing, saving lives, giving very ill people a chance to recover. Why are we not applying this tool and helping drug addicts?
We need large facilities – well-staffed with caring professionals – taking citizens off the streets, giving them back their dignity, cleaning up the terrible human suffering that we have allowed to fester. Controversial, yes; this approach is working in some U.S. cities.
Come on, governments, we the taxpayer want to spend money to have such places, instead of reading about death and suffering and lost souls. I am so angry.
Please change the status quo. A few beds here and there mean very little in this mess. How can we ‘celebrate’ another holiday?
Heidi Bumann, Surrey
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The taxpayers are footing the bill for all the druggies, injection sites, injections to bring them back so they can repeat their drug injection.
And don’t forget that for everyone that expires, the taxpayers also pay to bury them, while people line up for operations and children go to school without breakfast.
So, why not give free alcohol to all the alcoholics. Not really, that is just how stupid this is getting.
The do-gooders have compassion, but sometime you must stop.
Now, the premier is going to spend taxpayers’ cash and in huge amounts to build housing for the homeless folks, while Working Joe and Jane Lunchbucket can’t afford to buy a home for their clean family.
One other thing, just start to think of the cost and suffering to the first responders and the families, firefighters, police, ambulance attendants making repeated calls, and I can tell you from a reliable source that these responders know many of the druggies on a first-name basis as a result of repeat calls.
These responders will suffer from the same affects as our returning military people. A person can only take so much of this and the number of calls they are making on a daily basis is staggering.
We know the services I mention are pushed and over-called, and I would like to know if a clean person required assistance would first responders be available, or all tied up looking after repeat druggies?
Fred Somers Sr., Surrey
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Re: Dangers well-known but ignored, Dec. 2 letters.
I strongly approve Gerard Ponsford’s letter, particularly concerning bad choices made by those old enough to know the consequences.
But what about those too young, ignorant or incapacitated to foresee where a stupid choice may lead?
We’ve all been there – too innocent to sense the hook hidden in the bait, too inexperienced to imagine the cliff ahead. What do we all most need then? Someone we will listen to, who will tell us the truth about where we’re going. Parent, sibling, teacher, friend, police officer who will, without anger, give us the facts.
Without such caring honesty, we won’t value ourselves enough to say ‘no’ to whatever threatens our self-control or sense of self-preservation.
So please, friends of the young and innocent, speak the truth to those you love!
Peter Johnson, White Rock