Compassion needed to deal with addiction crisis

Fentanyl is so deadly because it shrouds users in shame and fear, writes Janet Jones

Waterloo Region is at a fork in the road. Will we become an inclusive and supportive community? Or will we become divided and let only the “good ones” survive?

A recent story in The Record indicated that Waterloo Region has a “really big” fentanyl problem. It noted that one report shows that across Ontario, the region was second only to Toronto in the number of suspected fentanyl seizures in the province.

Unfortunately, some people seem to think that the only way forward is to get rid of the drug-using population.

In the story, Justice Melanie Sopinka is quoted as saying, “to strike at the root of the (opioid) crisis, sentencing (for illegal distributors of fentanyl) must be guided primarily by the principles of deterrence and denunciation.” Justice Craig Parry echoed this in his explanation of Ashley Broderick’s sentence of 13 years, which is probably the longest fentanyl-related sentence in Ontario to date.

With all due respect to the judges, what about the principle of rehabilitation? Why are the judges convinced that deterrence can only come about by condemnation?

Stiff sentences might deter some traffickers, but it won’t work across the board. Very few people ever decide to just make a career selling illicit substances. The cases cited in the story are the rare ones. The vast majority of dealers are people who use drugs themselves. Often, they wound up doing what they do because they were addicted and needed the money to survive.

If we insist that we have to put away all people with addictions, we will find ourselves on a slippery slope. What will stop us from adopting an us-versus-them mentality? What will stop us from turning our backs on our friends, families, and neighbours — the people using drugs?

There is often talk of building a familyfriendly neighbourhood or the importance of being a good citizen. But what does that actually entail? It seems as if some of us want people with addictions to “clean up” and “do right,” but maybe they’re already trying. As Dr. Gabor Mate puts it, we shouldn’t be asking why the addiction but rather why the pain? Why are so many of us turning to opioids for relief ? And what we can do to alleviate their suffering?

Fentanyl is dangerous. I know; I’ve lost friends to the drug. But part of what makes fentanyl so deadly is that it shrouds its users in shame, guilt and fear. News coverage and public sentiment have turned our region into a war zone.

People are learning where it is and isn’t OK to speak up because there is so much stigma around the use of mood-altering substances. This means that, sometimes, people don’t get to ask for the help because they’re ashamed or worried that others will judge them. So, they’ll end up using and dying alone. For at least 71 people in the Waterloo Region last year, this might have been the case.

An invisible boundary threatens to permanently divide our community. The judgmental attitudes of a few may jeopardize access to health care, restorative justice and basic dignity for some of our most vulnerable fellows.

We cannot let this happen.

I want my neighbourhood to be one that comes together to help anyone who is hurting, whether they engaged in risky behaviours or not. I want to see less people in jail and more social supports in place.

I want our region to close the chasm that is growing and dividing our communities so that people don’t have to die.

I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry. The judges are wrong. We don’t need denunciation and deterrence. We need rehabilitation and compassion.