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By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Banning drug use in parks is the only choice

May 12, 2023 | 5:00 AM

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF TALK recently about the effectiveness of banning drug use in city parks.

There are those who feel limited drug use is okay, perhaps providing safe injection sites. Others say you can’t stop it so why have the bylaw and still others are adamant that for community safety reasons, we should at least attempt to curb its use in public.

There are so many issues intertwined in this conversation it is really hard to come to grips with it. The drug issue is tied in with homelessness, which is tied in with mental health, and they all require different approaches. And they are all almost impossible to solve in any large measure.

Many who deal with addicts suggest safe injection sites have proven their worth in keeping people away from tainted drugs. It makes some sense on the surface.

But a major report that dropped in the National Post this week suggests otherwise. In fact, it says the safe injection site plan has been a disaster. It indicates that the “safe” drugs given to addicts are being pocketed by the addicts and sold on the black market. This, according to the report, lowers the street price and actually creates more addicts.

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The story’s author, Adam Zivo, maintains that the street price of hydromorphone has gone down substantially. Hydromorphone, a very potent drug, has become much more affordable. That, in turn, according to Zivo, is helping to create new addictions, especially among young people.

The investigative report also mentions that many doctors involved in dealing with addicts don’t believe the program is working but won’t talk publicly for fear of being hassled by activists.

As far as the use of drugs in the parks, I’m against allowing it. Maybe it will be tough to stop but at some point, we have to take a stand on how best to deal with the issue.

In my view, public consumption is the wrong option. If we can ban smoking and public consumption of alcohol in public spaces, surely there is no logic to allow addicts to get high in those same areas.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.