Bright Spark
Posts: 334 
Location: Toronto
Location: Toronto
December 16th, 2005, 10:13 AM
I read an article on the way to school about the city council passing new drug legislation that would actively promote the decriminilization of marijuana, have addicts get disability benefits and open up centers where they can shoot up(any drugs). For me this runs counter to logic but there are a lot of supporters for this, which gets me thinking, what do people want this?
heres the article:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1134515412274
Addicts get crack pipes in new drug strategy
JOHN SPEARS
CITY HALL BUREAU
Crack users will be given pipes and the city will study whether to set up sites where addicts can use drugs under a wide-ranging drug strategy approved by city council yesterday.
The drug policy — which also aims to reduce the concentration of bars in certain areas of the city — passed by a 24-15 vote.
It urges the province to set up more treatment centres, especially for young people with drug and mental health problems, and says addicts should be eligible for provincial disability benefits. And it says possession of small amounts of marijuana shouldn't be a criminal offence.
The strategy sets no deadline for the study of safe injection sites and a committee will examine just where crack pipes will be handed out.
The strategy passed despite an emotional appeal from Councillor Rob Ford, who spoke about the trauma of having a member of his family ensnared in the drug world.
The policy's 66 recommendations are designed to prevent drug abuse, improve treatment for addicts, enforce the law, and reduce the harm that addicts do to themselves and others.
It's the harm reduction strategies — such as supplying needles or crack pipes, and studying "safe injection sites" staffed by doctors and counsellors — that drew the most fire.
Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) talked of the trauma caused by drugs in his family.
"You know a day's going to come when either the person's dead or in jail; you know it's going to happen," he said. "You don't know what to do next. And all of a sudden you get the phone call that something happened.
"I got that phone call. And what I saw, I can't deal with it to this day. It's something that I hope that no one, that anyone in this world doesn't have to deal with what I went through."
Ford's sister was shot in the face last March. Though badly injured, she survived.
"When you talk to the person that was actually shot, you know what? This is the last thing they want is ... a place where they can go get high at taxpayers' expense. On anyone's expense. Let's forget taxpayers for a minute.
"Anywhere you make it easier for these people to get drugs, to get needles, to shoot up, they don't want it," he said.
"We're not helping anyone out there going down this road."
Ford challenged any member of council to say they want a "heroin house" on their street. The measures in the strategy will attract "gun-toting bandits" to the city, he said.
Councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale), who chaired the task force that wrote the strategy, noted it only proposes studying the possibility of safe drug use sites.
Mayor David Miller strongly supported the strategy, saying it describes the way he would want a member of his own family with a drug problem to be treated. "I would want the system to recognize the humanity, whether it was a sister who is a Bay Street lawyer addicted to cocaine, or a son on the streets addicted to heroin or crack or alcohol," he said.
"It's about humanity in all of us. That's what this report is about."
Harm reduction is a necessary part of the plan, putting addicts in touch with people who can help, he said: "You don't reach some people without harm reduction."
In answer to Ford's challenge, Miller said he "wouldn't rule out my street" for a safe drug-use site.
The strategy identifies alcohol as one of the most problematic drugs in the city, but alcohol was only briefly mentioned in the debate that spread over three days. Council did call for the province's Alcohol and Gaming Commission to consult the city when issuing licences.
But councillors rejected changes to the controversial aspects of the strategy.
Rae said he was surprised that all the controversial measures got through. " I wasn't sure they would, the safe injection sites and the crack kits," he said.
" But you know what, there's a little twinge of leadership. Sometimes there's a little break in the cloud and the sun starts shining through."
Two downtown parents who sat through the debate decried the decision. Maureen Gilroy and Linda Dixon said their neighbourhoods are littered with needles and infested with drug dealers.
"It's always about the drug dealers, never about the kids, or us," said Dixon. "We're the ones who have to walk the streets, we're the ones who have to face these crackheads and dealers all the time. We don't count."
Meanwhile, council rejected a request to supply fireworks on New Year's Eve at city hall. Citytv sponsors a concert in Nathan Phillips Square, but doesn't have the money for fireworks, council was told. A motion for the city to put up $50,000 for fireworks failed.
Council also patched a $60 million hole in its 2005 budget by selling the city's street lights and poles to Toronto Hydro.
with files from Paul Moloney
I read an article on the way to school about the city council passing new drug legislation that would actively promote the decriminilization of marijuana, have addicts get disability benefits and open up centers where they can shoot up(any drugs). For me this runs counter to logic but there are a lot of supporters for this, which gets me thinking, what do people want this?
heres the article:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1134515412274
Addicts get crack pipes in new drug strategy
JOHN SPEARS
CITY HALL BUREAU
Crack users will be given pipes and the city will study whether to set up sites where addicts can use drugs under a wide-ranging drug strategy approved by city council yesterday.
The drug policy — which also aims to reduce the concentration of bars in certain areas of the city — passed by a 24-15 vote.
It urges the province to set up more treatment centres, especially for young people with drug and mental health problems, and says addicts should be eligible for provincial disability benefits. And it says possession of small amounts of marijuana shouldn't be a criminal offence.
The strategy sets no deadline for the study of safe injection sites and a committee will examine just where crack pipes will be handed out.
The strategy passed despite an emotional appeal from Councillor Rob Ford, who spoke about the trauma of having a member of his family ensnared in the drug world.
The policy's 66 recommendations are designed to prevent drug abuse, improve treatment for addicts, enforce the law, and reduce the harm that addicts do to themselves and others.
It's the harm reduction strategies — such as supplying needles or crack pipes, and studying "safe injection sites" staffed by doctors and counsellors — that drew the most fire.
Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) talked of the trauma caused by drugs in his family.
"You know a day's going to come when either the person's dead or in jail; you know it's going to happen," he said. "You don't know what to do next. And all of a sudden you get the phone call that something happened.
"I got that phone call. And what I saw, I can't deal with it to this day. It's something that I hope that no one, that anyone in this world doesn't have to deal with what I went through."
Ford's sister was shot in the face last March. Though badly injured, she survived.
"When you talk to the person that was actually shot, you know what? This is the last thing they want is ... a place where they can go get high at taxpayers' expense. On anyone's expense. Let's forget taxpayers for a minute.
"Anywhere you make it easier for these people to get drugs, to get needles, to shoot up, they don't want it," he said.
"We're not helping anyone out there going down this road."
Ford challenged any member of council to say they want a "heroin house" on their street. The measures in the strategy will attract "gun-toting bandits" to the city, he said.
Councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale), who chaired the task force that wrote the strategy, noted it only proposes studying the possibility of safe drug use sites.
Mayor David Miller strongly supported the strategy, saying it describes the way he would want a member of his own family with a drug problem to be treated. "I would want the system to recognize the humanity, whether it was a sister who is a Bay Street lawyer addicted to cocaine, or a son on the streets addicted to heroin or crack or alcohol," he said.
"It's about humanity in all of us. That's what this report is about."
Harm reduction is a necessary part of the plan, putting addicts in touch with people who can help, he said: "You don't reach some people without harm reduction."
In answer to Ford's challenge, Miller said he "wouldn't rule out my street" for a safe drug-use site.
The strategy identifies alcohol as one of the most problematic drugs in the city, but alcohol was only briefly mentioned in the debate that spread over three days. Council did call for the province's Alcohol and Gaming Commission to consult the city when issuing licences.
But councillors rejected changes to the controversial aspects of the strategy.
Rae said he was surprised that all the controversial measures got through. " I wasn't sure they would, the safe injection sites and the crack kits," he said.
" But you know what, there's a little twinge of leadership. Sometimes there's a little break in the cloud and the sun starts shining through."
Two downtown parents who sat through the debate decried the decision. Maureen Gilroy and Linda Dixon said their neighbourhoods are littered with needles and infested with drug dealers.
"It's always about the drug dealers, never about the kids, or us," said Dixon. "We're the ones who have to walk the streets, we're the ones who have to face these crackheads and dealers all the time. We don't count."
Meanwhile, council rejected a request to supply fireworks on New Year's Eve at city hall. Citytv sponsors a concert in Nathan Phillips Square, but doesn't have the money for fireworks, council was told. A motion for the city to put up $50,000 for fireworks failed.
Council also patched a $60 million hole in its 2005 budget by selling the city's street lights and poles to Toronto Hydro.
with files from Paul Moloney
Genius
Posts: 848
Location: Mission, BC
Location: Mission, BC
December 16th, 2005, 10:28 AM
Will they be doing the same for alcoholics?
We have a 4 Pillars approach to drug addiction here in BC. And I understand that countries that do have these types of 'social services' have a better handle on their drug addiction, but I'm still not so sure.
Will they be doing the same for alcoholics?
We have a 4 Pillars approach to drug addiction here in BC. And I understand that countries that do have these types of 'social services' have a better handle on their drug addiction, but I'm still not so sure.
Clever Clogs
Posts: 608
Location: earth
Location: earth
December 17th, 2005, 11:06 PM
I think the idea is to bring out into the open, so the spread of disease is lessend. Drug use is illeagal, and deemed as deviant behavior, what choice do addicts have but to hide. This leads to crack houses etc, where addicts congregate to use. People will be in an enviroment, they can trust, clean needles ( etc) will be offered, treatment for addiction and disease will be available.
I think the idea is to bring out into the open, so the spread of disease is lessend. Drug use is illeagal, and deemed as deviant behavior, what choice do addicts have but to hide. This leads to crack houses etc, where addicts congregate to use. People will be in an enviroment, they can trust, clean needles ( etc) will be offered, treatment for addiction and disease will be available.
Bright Spark
Posts: 334
Location: Toronto
Location: Toronto
December 18th, 2005, 10:10 AM
but does this curtail drug use or increase the usage as it is seen as more "okay" to be doing drugs. my problem with this is that drug users get disability benefits which I think is unfair, there should be some responsibility dont you think?
but does this curtail drug use or increase the usage as it is seen as more "okay" to be doing drugs. my problem with this is that drug users get disability benefits which I think is unfair, there should be some responsibility dont you think?
Super Genius
Posts: 1,458
Location: Toronto
Location: Toronto
December 18th, 2005, 11:06 AM
I support these types of harm-reduction programs. These people will do drugs regardless: these programs will do a lot to halt the spread of disease, and give addicts a place where they can get help when they are ready to quit.
In no way does it encourage or condone the use of hard drugs; it just acknowledges reality - that thousands of people are addicted. And not everyone is ready to quit at any one time.
I support these types of harm-reduction programs. These people will do drugs regardless: these programs will do a lot to halt the spread of disease, and give addicts a place where they can get help when they are ready to quit.
In no way does it encourage or condone the use of hard drugs; it just acknowledges reality - that thousands of people are addicted. And not everyone is ready to quit at any one time.
Clever Clogs
Posts: 608
Location: earth
Location: earth
December 18th, 2005, 11:24 AM
Quoting
These people are disabled, by an addiction they can't kick. The responsibility placed on them is to get better. There is usually more than just addiction and disease to overcome or treat, alot of times there are mental health issues to deal with as well. That I believe is societies responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. The alternative is a bunch of addicts in need of medical and mental help living and using on the streets.
but does this curtail drug use or increase the usage as it is seen as more "okay" to be doing drugs. my problem with this is that drug users get disability benefits which I think is unfair, there should be some responsibility dont you think?
Time Out
Posts: 4,194
Location: Vancouver
Location: Vancouver
December 18th, 2005, 11:50 AM
I am not sure how the one in Vancouver is going. Generally it has a positive response, but there are always those that say it causes more problems, but I think it is a good thing.
Vancouver Safe Injection Site
Another study finds Vancouver's safe injection site a success (this article is a little old
I am not sure how the one in Vancouver is going. Generally it has a positive response, but there are always those that say it causes more problems, but I think it is a good thing.
Vancouver Safe Injection Site
Another study finds Vancouver's safe injection site a success (this article is a little old
