NationStates Jolt Archive


Vancouver Tries Free Heroin Program

Naturality
12-03-2005, 22:16
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Just over the United States northwest border, addicts will soon be able to get their fix from the Canadian government in the form of free heroin (search) administered by nurses and doctors on the taxpayer's dime.

"They're using heroin. They'll continue to use heroin. What we're trying to do is prevent them from getting something irreversible like HIV, hep [hepatitis] C and overdose death,” said Dr. Martin Schechter, the director of the heroin program.

Vancouver is the first city to take part in the North American Opiate Medication Initiative, which plans to enroll 470 participants at three sites in Canada. The Toronto and Montreal sites are expected to begin recruiting candidates this spring.

Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham (search) is among supporters who say the heroin giveaway will let junkies shoot up without having to resort to theft or prostitution to buy their drugs. Breaking that cycle of crime, they argue, is the first step toward turning an addict's life around.

“I’m not a medical expert, this is not my field. I'm an expert in public safety," Graham said. "And if this will help reduce the crime rate — I'm all for it."

In the program all addicts have to do to get their fix is show up three times a day seven days a week.

Junkies offered different views of the program to FOX News. Some think it's the government's way of killing them, while others say they can't wait for the free dope. But none of them thought it would eventually get them clean.

"I think it would lower the crime rate. Nobody's gonna be robbing each other. Nobody's going to be sick enough to rob each other. All be taken care of. Free dope, woo-hoo,” said heroin addict Olivia Edgars.

Recovered addict Chuck Swesey - who's been clean 20 years - says the program smacks of government drug pushing. He says he knows how he would've ended under a program like this: "I'd be dead ... or I'd be in a jail or an institution."

The $8 million Canadian program is patterned after similar efforts in Europe.
New Granada
12-03-2005, 22:18
Jesus christ I am so excitied about going to vnacouver this summer.
Armandian Cheese
12-03-2005, 22:20
Yet another reason to unleash nuclear winter upon Canada...
Pure Metal
12-03-2005, 22:20
very good idea. if they can couple that with a rehabilitation program to get the addicts off it, that'd be even better
Naturality
12-03-2005, 22:21
I hope it does as they are intending it do by reducing crime and HiV. Maybe they can gradually wean them off their addiction.
Nadkor
12-03-2005, 22:23
hmm....Canada...
I_Hate_Cows
12-03-2005, 22:38
Besides the real point, how would the guy be in jail for taking part in a GOVERNEMNT SANCTIONED drug hand out?

More on point. I'm for it, it is alot easier to ween them off of the drugs if the government controls it, or inject more drugs into it that screws stuff up and maybe help the addiction >_>. And theoretically it should fix some of the crime related to drug addiction: prostitution, murder, theft, drug peddling, etc
Johnny Wadd
12-03-2005, 22:46
Besides the real point, how would the guy be in jail for taking part in a GOVERNEMNT SANCTIONED drug hand out?

More on point. I'm for it, it is alot easier to ween them off of the drugs if the government controls it, or inject more drugs into it that screws stuff up and maybe help the addiction >_>. And theoretically it should fix some of the crime related to drug addiction: prostitution, murder, theft, drug peddling, etc

Shoot, when I'm in Vancouver next time, where will I find my next vic.., erm hooker?
Dragon Cows
12-03-2005, 22:47
Personally, if this can make the streets even a little safer to walk at night, then i say go for it. I am currently living in Vancouver, and it is pretty nasty in some parts of the city. I don't know much about this program, but I hope that they place these clinics in the areas thet need them most, and keep them away from relatively clean areas, otherwise they'll just end up attracting more addicts into those areas.
Domici
12-03-2005, 23:18
Yet another reason to unleash nuclear winter upon Canada...

What's the first one? That no one would notice?
Upitatanium
13-03-2005, 00:41
It's worth a shot. Nothing else seems to be working to cure the problem.
Bottle
13-03-2005, 00:47
an excellent start by the Canadians. the first step to legalization, and a good one at that. decriminalization has been repeatedly proven to be massively more effective at curbing drug abuse than prohibition. if only we in the US would wise up to that simple fact.
I_Hate_Cows
13-03-2005, 00:56
an excellent start by the Canadians. the first step to legalization, and a good one at that. decriminalization has been repeatedly proven to be massively more effective at curbing drug abuse than prohibition. if only we in the US would wise up to that simple fact.
Pssh, the US realise that prohibition is bad? As if. If we havn't learnt that fact from PROHIBITION we wont learn it