COLLINS: When do we say, ‘enough already?’
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AT SOME POINT, there has to be a line drawn in the sand to distinguish between the needs of an individual over the needs of society as a whole. I have always had empathy for those who are marginalized, whether they be addicts, homeless, seniors, Indigenous peoples and others struggling through difficult times. But I fear that we are starting to get carried away with giving these marginalized folks too much at the expense of the majority of us. The balance has been disrupted, so to speak.
I am struggling with this thought, but there has to be a line somewhere and I think we have crossed it. When judges rule we cannot prevent consumption of drugs in public even though public safety is put at risk, well that is just wrong. To see people consuming drugs in public is bad enough, but we subject the public to the possibility of an addict suffering a reaction that could lead to attacks on innocent members of the public.
Now we hear of drug consumption in hospitals, with healthcare workers being exposed to all sorts of risk. Kamloops has its share of these problems, like most other hospitals in the province. Incidents of hazardous smoke from drugs being blown at nurses, the dangers of combining street drugs and prescription medications, patients even keeping weapons with them. And what about the danger to others sharing the same ward, most unable to defend themselves if a patient suddenly went south?
The government says it will hire more security officers. Stupid idea. They’ll never react in time. Why not use those funds to hire more nurses? It would be a much better use of the money.
