Addicts need better access to rehab, not a supervised drug site

Editor:

I have a close family member who is an addict and has been living on the streets or in his vehicle for the past two years.⁣⁣

I also have a daughter who has been fighting against addicts in her alley, and around her children because of businesses like now on 7th Avenue South that house many addicts and dealers alike.⁣⁣ Her house is right down the alley.⁣⁣

Arches not only increased the level of addiction in the city, it created new addicts.⁣⁣ There were people who would have never tried drugs had they not had a safe place to do it and within the first time or the very first few times, an addict was created.⁣⁣ When addicts heard about Arches, they came from Calgary.⁣⁣ Edmonton, Kelowna, Montana, Regina and even as far as Toronto; they moved to Lethbridge.⁣⁣

The crime in our city went out of control making us No.⁣⁣ 1 for crime across Canada.⁣⁣

There were addicts I talked to who are frustrated with the competition for things to steal, like bicycles to dismantle, as there are so many more in the city that need crime to feed their habit!

What an addict needs is to be able to get into detox and rehab as soon as they are ready.⁣⁣

I have watched my family member and others I have now met agree to go to rehab but by the time a bed opens up they are no longer ready to go.⁣⁣

In the discussions I have had with these people, who are both on the streets, or still trying to work at this time, that the worst thing that ever happened and could happen for them, is a place like Arches.⁣⁣

Your dealer is right there, so getting access is no longer a problem.⁣⁣ The amount that you use would also increase.⁣⁣

Another complaint came from those who have to steal to be able to supply their habit, is the competition that came in once Arches was established.⁣⁣

Most addicts I have talked to have stated that what they need is better access to rehab when they need it, with longer programs and better support at the tail end.⁣⁣

The UCP party is doing that.⁣⁣ Throwing money at it to facilitate their drug use is absolutely the wrong approach.⁣⁣

Arches also tried to house other services in that building, and nobody wanted to go there to access those services because they were afraid of the addicts and the dealers that were hanging around outside!

Millions were thrown at a really bad idea.⁣⁣ Now the NDP in B.⁣⁣C.⁣⁣ are giving out free drugs, thinking that may somehow tackle drug addiction! Unbelievable! Jill Skriver

Lethbridge