FAQ Tough Questions Answered - Toxic Drug Crisis

FAQ Answering Hard questions - Drug Crisis

Finally, a FAQ that answers hard questions. Provincial and health drug policies can feel like a tangled web, especially when we’re bombarded with conflicting information. Let’s break it down, and explore the path forward. This drug crisis is hitting everyone hard, and it's natural to want solutions. The truth is, that some of the new approaches can seem frustrating to many people, especially if they go against what we've always believed.

Why the Frustration?

Biases and Expectations: We all carry our life experiences like invisible baggage. These shape our views. The complex issues of crime, substance use, homelessness, and poverty can sometimes color our understanding of the challenges individuals face and the solutions that could best support everyone in our community. When new research and policies challenge what we’ve known, it’s like rearranging furniture in a familiar room—it feels odd.

Harsher Penalties vs. Health Approach: Picture this: You’re at a crossroads. One sign says “Tougher Punishments,” and the other says “Health-Centered Solutions.” It’s okay to hesitate. Change is hard, especially when it involves rewiring our brains. We all have life experiences that shape our views, and sticking with what's familiar feels safe. However, when it comes to saving lives, we need to follow the evidence – the science, even if it's a new path that doesn’t feel comfortable.

Feeling Helpless? You’re Not Alone.

• The Poisoned Drug Crisis: It’s a monster we’re grappling with. The enormity can overwhelm anyone. But remember, you’re not powerless. We’re all in this together. This crisis affects everyone and the solutions will require all of us to find the best path forward.
• Progress vs. Backward Steps: Sometimes it feels like we’re inching along. But guess what? Science doesn’t sprint; it walks. Each study, each policy tweak—it’s a step toward a safer community.

Solutions Rooted in Research

• Neuroscience: Addiction isn’t about weak willpower. It’s neurons doing the tango with chemicals and the drugs winning. Brain scans prove this without a shadow of a doubt.
  
  
• Cost-Effectiveness: Treating addiction as a health disorder is like investing in solar panels—it pays off in the long run. Science-based research is a process of discovery. The traditional “War on Drugs” approach, with its focus on criminalization and punitive measures, has been expensive and shown to be ineffective. Billions of dollars have been poured into law enforcement, incarceration, and interdiction efforts. Yet, the results have been incredibly disappointing.
  
  Sadly, the majority of those dollar resources were directed towards the criminalization of people using substances - not the big players. The focus on the criminalization of substance users has resulted in a cycle of incarceration, release, returning to drug use, and reincarceration.  Addiction rates have only increased, and drug-related crimes continue to climb because we don't break the cycle and address the root causes for people. The financial drain on taxpayers is substantial with no return on investment.
  
  
• Treating addiction as a health disorder shifts the narrative. It’s like redirecting funds from a leaky bucket to building a sturdy dam. It is cost-effective because prevention reduces the number of people who become addicted. Early intervention prevents downstream consequences and costs. Treatment helps people recover and return to being productive citizens, which reduces the burden on systems, and the taxpayer. Crime rates are reduced. Family stability is re-established, which results in lower social services. Ultimately it is about saving lives – the most valuable of all return on investment.

This FAQ series is here to address your concerns head-on. We'll tackle the tough questions, explain the science behind these new approaches, and show you how they can make a difference. Let’s get started:

1.    Isn't the whole drug crisis just people making bad choices? Why should we spend money helping them when they should just stop using drugs? I remember back in the day, they said getting tough was the answer.

Hold Up -  Being addicted to drugs is not merely a matter of poor choices. It’s a multifaceted and incredibly complex health disorder that profoundly affects people, their families, and our community. (all of us)

Imagine your brain as a finely tuned reward system, where everyday experiences—whether it’s a warm hug, a delicious meal, or a kind word—trigger feelings of pleasure. Now, when drugs enter the picture, they hijack this system. Drugs flood the brain with intense pleasure, creating an irresistible need to repeat those feelings. The only way to do that is more drugs.

Willpower alone cannot overcome this powerful force. We wouldn’t blame someone with diabetes for struggling with sugar cravings, nor would we judge someone who has had a heart attack and still grapples with lifestyle choices that contributed to their condition. We need to think the same way about people with substance disorders—it’s not about weakness; it’s about the intricate interplay of biology, psychology, and the environment.

Evidence-based research consistently shows that treating people addicted to drugs as a health disorder is not only compassionate but also cost-effective for taxpayers. The outdated “War on Drugs” approach from the mid-20th century, which focused on punishment and incarceration, failed to address the root causes of addiction. Instead, it perpetuates a cycle of suffering, stigma, and repetition. There is a far better chance of breaking the cycle when we treat people. Treatment saves lives and saves money for taxpayers.

Helping people recover is far more effective. Think of it as extending a hand to lift someone out of the quicksand of addiction, rather than leaving them trapped in a cycle of substance disorders and imprisonment. By providing comprehensive treatment, support, and understanding, we can empower people to reclaim their lives.

Remember, addiction doesn’t discriminate—it affects people from all walks of life.

2.    They made a free choice in the beginning. Why should I help them now that they’ve become addicted?

You’re absolutely right: for some people, the initial decision to try drugs can be a conscious choice. Teens or young people trying something at a party or being pressured by peers is an example. However, being addicted to drugs is far from a simple matter of willpower or mere choices. It’s a tangled web of factors that extend beyond conscious decisions.

Here’s the deal: Many people turn to drugs as a way to cope with deep emotional pain, trauma, or life challenges. Imagine someone caught in a storm of emotions—whether it’s childhood trauma, grief, anxiety, poverty, homelessness, loneliness, or maybe even driven by self-medicating mental illness disorders. Drugs can seem like a temporary shelter, a way to numb the pain or escape reality. It’s like seeking refuge from the rain under a flimsy umbrella—it might not be the best choice, but it’s what’s available at the moment.

These days, exposure to drugs is akin to catching a bad cold: Picture this—you’re out and about, maybe at school or shopping, and you inadvertently come into contact with someone who’s sneezing and coughing. You wouldn’t blame yourself for catching that cold, right? Similarly, drugs are pervasive in our world today. They’re everywhere—on street corners, in social circles, even online. Avoiding exposure to drugs is like trying to dodge raindrops in a thunderstorm.

Now, let’s address the metaphor hiccup. Comparing addiction to catching a cold doesn’t quite fit, does it? So, let’s pivot. Think of ending up with addiction as a well-worn path in the brain. Initially, it’s just a faint trail—a choice made here, a substance used there. But over time, - often a very short time, that path widens and deepens. It becomes the only route, A horrendously deep trench you can’t climb out of without help. Breaking free from this ingrained pattern isn’t easy—it’s like trying to forge a new trail through a dense thorn-filled jungle, using only your bare hands.

Here’s the silver lining: Just as we support someone who’s been smoking or drinking for years, and who also made a conscious choice in the beginning, we can extend the same compassion to those grappling with substance disorders. Our health system can offer help—treatment, counselling, and community support. Recovery isn’t a straight line; it’s more like a winding road with twists and turns. But it’s possible, and it benefits everyone—the individual, their family, and society as a whole.

3.    You say I need to be nicer to people who get hooked on drugs - What about people who make, produce and supply drugs? I want them in jail!

We absolutely agree. We need to go after the big players. These are the people bringing poisoned drugs into our communities, who are profiting from the suffering of others with no regard for the toxicity of their products and the horrendous risks of overdose deaths to people forced by addiction to buy unregulated substances. These suppliers deserve to be held accountable. Law enforcement needs to target these kingpins and disrupt their operations.

We hope you will advocate with your political representatives for more resources to target suppliers.

The important part is that we differentiate between the criminalization of the big players and those who have substance disorders and need access to health treatment – not prison. Focusing solely on putting people with substance disorders in jail isn’t effective. Research shows it just creates a revolving door. New users taking the place of those arrested. People released from prison quickly return to using substances. The key is to interrupt the cycle with health interventions and get people on their journey to recovery.

4.    These safe injection sites sound crazy. Doesn't that just encourage drug use more? Wouldn't they be better off getting clean altogether?

Safe Injection or Overdose Prevention Sites - Saving Lives: These sites aren't about encouraging drug use. They provide clean needles, medical supervision, and a chance to connect with support services. This can dramatically reduce overdoses. SIS or OPS sites also reduce the risk of HIV, Hepatitis, and other blood-borne infections, not just for people who use substances, but for the entire community. These sites are giving people a fighting chance. It's like having a lifeguard at the pool – it doesn't mean people want to drown, however having a lifeguard around can save lives in an emergency.

5.    Giving people safe or regulated drugs they're addicted to? That sounds like enabling them. Won't they just use more? Isn't that the opposite of getting clean?

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) or Regulated Safe Supply: It might sound surprising, but sometimes doctors prescribe medications like methadone or suboxone to help people with addiction. These medications stabilize a person's body and mind, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It's like providing glasses for someone who can't see – it doesn't "cure" their vision, but helps them function normally. With MAT or Regulated Safe Supply, people can focus on therapy, the next steps in their healing journey, and rebuilding their lives.

Regulated safe supply provides people with a safe, legal source of the drugs they're already using. This reduces the risk of overdoses from contaminated street drugs and connects people with healthcare and support services in a controlled setting. It's not about encouraging drug use, but about creating a safer environment for someone who's already struggling.

Both MAT and regulated safe supply are backed by research and have shown success in reducing overdose deaths and improving people's quality of life. Neither approach is a magic bullet, but they offer crucial tools in the fight against substance disorders.

6.    I hear they sell the regulated safe supply they are given so they can buy stronger street drugs. Aren’t the safe supply drugs given and sold to kids then?

You raise a good point. What you’re asking about is called diversion. Some people might indeed try to sell their regulated safe supply drugs to get stronger street drugs. Unfortunately, diversion is a risk with ALL regulated substances in society, not just safe supply programs.

Think about prescription medications – sometimes they're stolen or sold illegally. We’ve also had bootleggers for centuries who sell alcohol to anyone, including kids. Just recently, (Feb 2024) in greater Vancouver, 27 tonnes of illegal cigarettes were recovered during two “federal policing enforcement actions” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth explained that 45 pallets of illicit tobacco, with a retail value of around $12 million, were seized.

You can see that diversion happens with any sought-after substance. It’s not good and for that reason, we would expect that any regulated safe supply would be properly controlled by our Health agencies. Also, our BC Coroner has stated the diversion of drugs from the safe drug supply trials is not a significant factor. The benefits of reducing overdose deaths seriously outweigh this risk.

7.    Overdoses are tragic, but aren't these people just hurting themselves? Why should it be a public health crisis?

Public Health Crisis: Overdoses are tragic, and they also impact families, communities, and emergency services. When someone we care about is struggling, it affects everyone around them. The poisoned drug crisis is like a ripple effect – by helping those affected, we strengthen the whole community. Imagine if a fire started in one house – wouldn't we work to contain it before it spread? Just like house fires, the poisoned drug crisis can impact all of us. That’s why it has to be considered a public health emergency.

8.    I get all this talk about harm reduction, but what about preventing people from using drugs in the first place? Isn't that more important?

Harm Reduction vs Prevention: Both are crucial! Harm reduction helps those already using drugs stay safe, while prevention focuses on education and stopping people from starting. It's like having smoke detectors and fire escapes in a building – they both work together to keep people safe.

The good news is, that evidence-based solutions like these, have proven to prevent overdose deaths and help people begin recovery.

So, there you have it! We've tackled some tough questions about the poisoned drug crisis and provided health-based answers. Remember, addiction is a health disorder, not a personal or moral failure. By offering compassion, and evidence-based solutions, and if we have a willingness to learn, our community will lose fewer lives to poisoned drugs and everyone will have a chance to have a better quality of life. If you're interested in learning more or getting involved, there are resources available online and in your community.