Jacob Morris-Wheeler, a local advocate and person in recovery, addresses growing concerns about how society views addiction and homelessness in Grey-Bruce and beyond.
Congratulations on overcoming addiction, as I understand that is no easy feat. I had hoped your letter would include more realities of lived experience and recovery solutions, rather than advocacy for acceptance of illegal drugs, and civil disorder.
You are implying that the street supply of illegal drugs isn't bad; however, I strongly disagree. It is killing citizens and without the supply, active addiction cannot exist. Citizens poisoning citizens, and the crime often associated with drugs are criminal issues, not health issues, and enforcing existing laws equally and without prejudice does not contravene The Charter of Rights or human rights.
I do agree that rehab is a health issue, and that it is the best option for an addict, and should be encouraged/leveraged and funded. My opinions are rooted in lived experience and compassion for addicts, not religion, hate or politics. I lost a loved one to opioids and another is still alive. Many agency advocates seem to think that if someone believes in civil order and leveraged rehab it must be one of these reasons you cited, as kindness is just to "let them be", but I disagree. To me, kindness is to stop enabling destructive and illegal behaviour, and to provide avenues for rehab, because it is the best chance of their returning to who they truly are. I'd bet your family wanted rehab for you, not drug supplies.
Because of the highly addictive nature of the drugs, an addict can choose recovery in the morning and change their mind by noon when the dose begins to wane, and many die before ever choosing rehab. Leverage is often needed otherwise it can be "not today". Sometimes that leverage is a crisis like a health crisis, and sometimes that leverage is a choice between jail or rehab. An addict I know came to me when in a health crisis swearing they were going to quit, as they thought they were dying and seemed serious in their resolution to quit. When they learned that surgery would correct the problem, the leverage disappeared and so did the resolution to quit. That person is still addicted and I wish they would be charged for public drug use, as I believe they would choose rehab over jail. There are many stories of it taking something serious in order for an addict to quit (e.g losing custody of children, legal intervention, etc). Bill C-5 provides an avenue for leveraged rehab for addicts who break laws if charges are laid. Simply providing an addict with drug supplies isn't kind, in my view, as it aids their decline and/or death. Ignoring crime and civil disorder isn't kind to anyone. I believe that ultimately we all want safe and healthy communities, but Status quo isn't safe or kind for the addict, and isn't safe or kind for the community.
Congratulations on overcoming addiction, as I understand that is no easy feat. I had hoped your letter would include more realities of lived experience and recovery solutions, rather than advocacy for acceptance of illegal drugs, and civil disorder.
You are implying that the street supply of illegal drugs isn't bad; however, I strongly disagree. It is killing citizens and without the supply, active addiction cannot exist. Citizens poisoning citizens, and the crime often associated with drugs are criminal issues, not health issues, and enforcing existing laws equally and without prejudice does not contravene The Charter of Rights or human rights.
I do agree that rehab is a health issue, and that it is the best option for an addict, and should be encouraged/leveraged and funded. My opinions are rooted in lived experience and compassion for addicts, not religion, hate or politics. I lost a loved one to opioids and another is still alive. Many agency advocates seem to think that if someone believes in civil order and leveraged rehab it must be one of these reasons you cited, as kindness is just to "let them be", but I disagree. To me, kindness is to stop enabling destructive and illegal behaviour, and to provide avenues for rehab, because it is the best chance of their returning to who they truly are. I'd bet your family wanted rehab for you, not drug supplies.
Because of the highly addictive nature of the drugs, an addict can choose recovery in the morning and change their mind by noon when the dose begins to wane, and many die before ever choosing rehab. Leverage is often needed otherwise it can be "not today". Sometimes that leverage is a crisis like a health crisis, and sometimes that leverage is a choice between jail or rehab. An addict I know came to me when in a health crisis swearing they were going to quit, as they thought they were dying and seemed serious in their resolution to quit. When they learned that surgery would correct the problem, the leverage disappeared and so did the resolution to quit. That person is still addicted and I wish they would be charged for public drug use, as I believe they would choose rehab over jail. There are many stories of it taking something serious in order for an addict to quit (e.g losing custody of children, legal intervention, etc). Bill C-5 provides an avenue for leveraged rehab for addicts who break laws if charges are laid. Simply providing an addict with drug supplies isn't kind, in my view, as it aids their decline and/or death. Ignoring crime and civil disorder isn't kind to anyone. I believe that ultimately we all want safe and healthy communities, but Status quo isn't safe or kind for the addict, and isn't safe or kind for the community.