As the opioid crisis worsens across Canada, the future of safe consumption sites is on the line — while toxic drugs continue to claim lives.

One of the big problems is good, lasting solutions are rarely quick, easy solutions. And most people want solutions now, not 5, 10, or 20 years from now. And let’s not even mention how long we neglected these problems to let them get this big. But don’t worry, prisons and policemen aren’t expensive at all, not like schooling and social programs.

Politicians have had almost 15 years since the drug crisis started in earnest to do something.

What they did was implement a “let’er rip!” non-enforcement strategy that, without supports, housing or healthcare, was basically pouring gasoline on the pre-existing fire. Addicts weren’t going to get help, but they were going to get even fewer speedbumps on the road to letting addiction ruin everything for them and around them.

And politicians did this because choosing not to enforce anything while simultaneously not providing supports was the cheapest option. It required doing even less than they were doing at the time, and it let them get kudos for being so progressive and forward looking.

Jump forward fifteen years or so and the toxic fruits have come to bear.

Clamping down on SCS is just another way to avoid spending money fixing the problem.

I think politicians are getting very close to being handed a mandate from the public that doesn’t include “good” solutions but mean, punitive ones.

Hence why it’s commonly said that one of the foundations for a working democracy is an educated populous.

Don’t think education has much to do with it when emotion takes over. If I had a personal experience with it I’d be out for blood too and I’m well educated.

Education doesn’t mean just imparting knowledge, but also tools for how to think, such as logic and critical thinking. This helps one avoid making or accepting policy decisions based on how they make you feel, but based on reality and actions that will help you achieve your goals.

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