MORE TREATMENT, NOT CRACK PIPES

It is obvious to me that VIHA and the provincial government have
their priorities wrong when it comes to managing the addiction
problem. They are expecting the taxpayer to be on the hook for
providing crack pipes, which only encourages drug use, while ignoring
the need to increase the facilities for those addicts who wish to become clean.

I have a relative who was in a publicly funded treatment facility
21/2 years ago and placed on methadone as a way to abstain from hard
drugs. At the time, he was told that if he ever wanted to get off
methadone it would be best that he detoxified in a facility.

Well, that time has come, but his doctor cannot find a public
facility that has space or will accept a person who is detoxifying
from methadone. Detoxifying from methadone is more difficult both
physically and mentally than alcohol or any of the street drugs. So
he is left to fight the battle on his own, with the occasional visit
to a street physician. Not being in a controlled environment only
lowers his chances of success. Maybe there is a private facility; but
not everyone can afford thousands of dollars a month.

Our governments commit us to megaprojects that leave us with huge
debts for current and future generations, but continue to ignore the
social issues that are eroding our society and quality of life.

Brian Belcher

Victoria