Legal drug dens
By Letter to the Editor on February 4, 2019.
So while the three levels of government have yet again caved to a small yet noisy minority, Medicine Hat is now stuck with a “legal” drug den. The research data that the proponents of these facilities spout is flimsy at best and rarely meets simple research criteria. Even if they have never had a death on the premises — big whoop! — they are only there briefly and leave under the influence. Investigation does show that many newspapers have reported increased police statistics in the immediate area. Which leads to the question: Who is going to reimburse the city for the extra policing and local business for loss of trade? Is there a police no-go zone around this building that will encourage drug dealers to flout the law? What next? A brothel? After all the city fathers choose not to challenge the province demonstrating its usual lack of fortitude when facing the big bad provincial government. Ian Parkinson Medicine Hat 5-4
The small but noisy minority seem to be growing in numbers at an alarming rate and I’m sure Mr. Parkinson knows at least one person who has suffered at the hands of the opioid crisis due to doctor and pharmaceutical companies negligence. The real problem is the lack of empathy and understanding of the real problem society is facing to how this crisis has come about. Proper treatment facilities might be a better option than just setting up free injection sites but we must not turn our backs on the problem because it has become a huge issue.
I think the best location is in the new (detox) residential treatment center.
It is removed from most retail businesses and people can seek real counseling for help there. If the main goal of government is to help people, this location offers the best possible chance of that service.
I have always questioned why the treatment center location was never chosen.