British Columbia opioid deaths rise despite millions of dollars spent on harm reduction and treatment

What's missing from the lives of the people that are suffering from addiction issues? What's at the root of addictions? Substance abuse (in the sense of self-medicating these issues) is just a manifestation of other issues that need to be addressed.

These people don't choose this way of life, and it's not a moral issue either. They are human beings. They had hopes and dreams just like everyone else did. Drugs are tricky thing, in the sense that they make you feel great if you feel like shit. That's the trick they play, and then one day a few years later that same person finds themselves down on Hastings and Main, trying to run a habit. The only thing that matters to them at that point is trying to feel better about where they are, and who they've become.

Many of the people suffering from addictions and homelessness have undiagnosed mental health issues. Others come from severe abuse by the hands of family of origin. There are a vast assortment of issues that would cause a person to want to self-medicate, and have low impulse control once they've found a substance that makes them feel better.

These people, never had a chance to build a life that allowed them to feel real self-esteem, or worthy of anything other than more abuse. They failed at everything that matters in our society in the sense of being able to become "successful", and feel like outcasts. They hate themselves more than the abusive psychopathic shit heads who walk past them on the street and spit, or make fun of them. They've become victims of a meat-grinder system that treats them exactly like drug dealers do. They're used by "non-profit" societies, "treatment" centers, penal systems, lawyers, Dr's for profit; just like the sick fucks who deal them drugs like Fentanyl.

Decriminalization is a good start, but there needs to be infrastructure provided and the laws the govern that infrastructure needs to be changed as well. As it stands, addicts who want to fix the problems they're having don't really have the security to be able to build a life that they never want to tear down again. They are considered "at risk" and treatment centers / recovery houses can boot them out to the street whenever they want; in some cases taking their money as well. How in the hell is someone supposed to build a life if there's the constant stress of losing their home? How can they rebuild a life if they cant get a job (and hold it) because they have mental health issues that remain undiagnosed?

I wish I had more time to write, but I don't. There's many things that need to change if we're going to help people that are suffering in our society. A big thing that would help though, is if people stopped being cruel to people that are homeless, and suffering with addiction issues. It could be you next!.. or your child, or your mom, or dad... or anyone that you love.

/r/Drugs Thread Parent Link - edmontonjournal.com