Answer to opioid crisis is legalizing drugs

Re Ontario creates ‘emergency task force’ on opioid crisis, but doesn’t declare an emergency, Oct. 4

I am livid at the news of the establishment of the Ontario government’s new opioid emergency task force.

What a horrendous waste, with a huge price tag, researching a question that I, as a recovered cocaine addict, would be quite willing to offer for free. Is this task force supposed to help with the crisis or gain brownie points at the ballot box?

The answer is so simple — legalize most recreational drugs and make them available to addicts at no charge. With some degree of supervision, the drugs would be of high quality and most fentanyl deaths would stop overnight.

The millions of dollars now being spent on enforcing drug laws and on the resulting incarceration of those convicted for what is really a health problem could be funnelled into beefing up access to treatment across the province. I cannot wrap my brain around why this simple, cost-saving solution is being ignored.

The wait time for treatment at most Ontario facilities is in excess of eight months. When an addict makes a decision to seek help, they need a place to go before the drug starts calling to them and urging them change their minds.

I have been a lifelong Liberal, but when I heard the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh say that the legalization of all recreational drugs will be part of his agenda, I began thinking of changing my political stripes.

Mel Tonken, Toronto