Vancouver treats drug problem by opening places to use illegal drugs ?

[Modelworks]

Watched Dan Rather reports, he had a show about how bad drug use was in Vancouver.
They showed people shooting up on street corner, alleys, out in the open like they were drinking a coke. They said it was easy to find needles on the sidewalks and streets and that it was causing a huge HIV problem.

Their solution was to open a clinic where the users could go and shoot up.
They provide the needles and a nurse is on watch to make sure no one dies from an overdose.

Now they are discussing giving out the drugs too . They want to reduce the crime caused by drug sales.

Not so sure about all this.
I can't see this working. It might slow the spread of diseases, but I could see this also increasing drug usage.

http://www.canada.com/vancouve...47da-8892-04ad4d8534a6

Unfortunately, as our local NEP has never required an exchange of "used for new" syringes and because up to 40 per cent of those obtaining syringes from this "giveaway" program continue to share their needles, the number of lethal syringes circulating within the drug using community has increased, our communities have become dumping grounds for used needles, and Hepatitis C and HIV rates have skyrocketed to levels exceeding those in Third World countries.

Edit:
Not just needles now

http://www.canada.com/vancouve...4ce5-ae53-c2c6ae256819

So it was with the recent announcement that the B.C. Ministry of Health plans to distribute crack pipe components, such as mouthpieces and filters, to addicts on Vancouver Island.

Found a link to watch the program online:
http://www.hd.net/drr307.html

It starts out about voting machines, but its the right show.

Advance the slider to 17 minutes if you want to skip right to the article.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

legality never stopped someone from consuming drugs who wanted to consume them.

 

[Pepsei]

meh, if heroin is legal, i wouldn't use it. but yeah, i could see it increasing drug usage for people who's got addictive personality. i would try pot if i can get some Kentucky blue grass.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
meh, if heroin is legal, i wouldn't use it. but yeah, i could see it increasing drug usage for people who's got addictive personality. i would try pot if i can get some Kentucky blue grass.

same here...heroine and crack no...

bag o weed, yes

 

[K1052]

I doubt it would really increase drug use. It might increase the awareness of how many people actually use already though.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

If someone walked into one of these clinics to use drugs for the first time, the sight of the junkies might get them to change their minds.

I personally love the idea giving free drugs to junkies, but I hope they have some sort of rule where the junkie can't take the drugs with him.

 

[Lonyo]

Well it reduces risk for the users, it also reduces income for the criminals, and it means that you can potentially offer support for users who are more likely to visit, since it provides a better environment than back alleys.
Many users probably don't seek rehabilitation, but if you have them coming to a place where care can be offered to get their drugs, you might be able to help them get off the drugs.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: K1052
I doubt it would really increase drug use. It might increase the awareness of how many people actually use already though.

if thy legalized drug use you would prob see an increase in use but it would just be a spike as people on the fence about it may try it then and then things woudl go back to normal

those who want to do drugs allready do them

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: K1052
I doubt it would really increase drug use. It might increase the awareness of how many people actually use already though.

if thy legalized drug use you would prob see an increase in use but it would just be a spike as people on the fence about it may try it then and then things woudl go back to normal

those who want to do drugs allready do them

do you really believe people out there are like well......"I am curious about crack but its....illegal so I think I'll hold off? "

That concept seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It's not going to lead to an increase in drug use. All it will do is create a controlled environment for those that already do drugs.

 

[skace]

This type of scenario is always discussed, it will be interesting to see how it pans out in Vancouver.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: K1052
I doubt it would really increase drug use. It might increase the awareness of how many people actually use already though.

if thy legalized drug use you would prob see an increase in use but it would just be a spike as people on the fence about it may try it then and then things woudl go back to normal

those who want to do drugs allready do them

do you really believe people out there are like well......"I am curious about crack but its....illegal so I think I'll hold off? "

That concept seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

crack no, but weed and things like schrooms yes, possibily coke as well

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: skace
This type of scenario is always discussed, it will be interesting to see how it pans out in Vancouver.

I think they said California was considering the same thing.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Switzerland was doing something similar to this in the 90s. Never heard how it panned out for them though.

 

[Mr Incognito]

This is the way I see it. Despite the governments 'best' efforts to clamp down, and despite their 'best' efforts at trying to warn people with knowledge and harsh jail sentences there is still a 120 billion dollar a year market for drugs (that number is for the US), so why not. If anyone is a sociologist we can look at this from a funcionalist perspective and say, if people didn't want drugs they wouldn't exist. So with that in mind, let's try to help people with clean needles and rehabilitation, not incarceration. Good job BC for at least trying to help the problem instead of pretending like you go to jail and magically come out a reformed person.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

taking drugs is not the problem, its the fallout from the drug culture (sharing needles), and the black market (crime, violence) that harm society. people will do drugs regardless of the legality or safety, if we are determined to spend money on the 'problem', why not spend it on making it safer?

 

[buck]

OP: Do you live or have you been to Vancouver?

I doubt anyone who has stumbled onto "east hastings" is surprised to hear this.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: buck
OP: Do you live or have you been to Vancouver?

I doubt anyone who has stumbled onto "east hastings" is surprised to hear this.

No
I live in the USA.
I watch Dan Rather reports on HDNet and he did a show this month on the problem with drugs there.

http://www.hd.net/danrather.html

There is a re-broadcast of the show on March 4th if anyone wants to watch it.

Found a link to watch the program online:
http://www.hd.net/drr307.html
It starts out about voting machines, but its the right show.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: K1052
I doubt it would really increase drug use. It might increase the awareness of how many people actually use already though.

if thy legalized drug use you would prob see an increase in use but it would just be a spike as people on the fence about it may try it then and then things woudl go back to normal

those who want to do drugs allready do them

do you really believe people out there are like well......"I am curious about crack but its....illegal so I think I'll hold off? "

That concept seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

crack no, but weed and things like schrooms yes, possibily coke as well

I've never heard anyone in my entire life say "No thanks man I don't want that weed/shrooms/coke because it is illegal."

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Switzerland was doing something similar to this in the 90s. Never heard how it panned out for them though.

In Switzerland you could buy weed and mushrooms in stores. At least back in 2002

 

[DefDC]

Weed, which I don't smoke anymore, should not be in the same sentence with hard drugs. It's less intense than beer. Legalize weed already. If people had easy legal access to weed, many wouldn't NEED other drugs.

In fact, if weed was legal to grow, we'd see a huge surge in gardening equipment and conservation. People would easily be able to grow all the needed. Unfortunately, the drug companies would see a huge reduction of their "legal" drugs that do the same thing as weed. Lobbyists will never allow that to happen. (Although the gardening community needs to come together with their own lobbyists)

Sorry... Wondered off topic there, kinda like I was... Eh.. Nevermind...


Back on topic, I can't see this making things any WORSE. If we gave away the drugs for free it will definitely reduce crime. I'd assume that they'd make it mandatory that the users know where to go for treatment. That might help people if they know they are close to someone who is offering help. Maybe if they gave away only snortable heroine, instead of injectable.... I don't know enough about hard drugs to know if that would be enough of what they are looking for....

 

[torpid]

Sounds like they were watching Season 3 of The Wire and wanted to take some of the "ideas" from there and make a Canadian Hamsterdam.

 

[Sqube]

Control the distribution, control the needles, etc.

Freaky as it sounds, I like this idea. The illegality of drugs doesn't stem the tide of drug use in any way, in case you people hadn't noticed yet.

 

[rh71]

We visited Vancouver and were just walking around downtown. Then we came upon East Hastings Street. My wife and I turned around and high-tailed out of there so fast I think we left a vapor trail. What was weird is that 1 block over you didn't see anything remotely close to looking like a crack area.

 

[potato28]

It's a great idea, hope it works out. This would really reduce some of the "strain" that everyone says is happening with our health care...