Suboxone program well worth the pain of withdrawal
Re: Fentanyl crisis demands bold shift in treating drug addiction, Column, Dec. 29
Sen. Larry Campbell nailed it. I am a recovering heroin addict. I am on the suboxone program and have been clean for seven months after using heroin every day for five years. I never thought I would be able to quit as the withdrawals are seemingly unbearable, but those few hours that I had to be sick to get on the suboxone treatment was well worth the pain. My life has drastically changed for the better and I can’t thank my doctor enough for suggesting suboxone after the methadone program did not work for me.
Rather than looking down your nose at struggling addicts, reach out by suggesting suboxone. I wouldn’t recommend giving them money. Instead give emotional support, a safe place to sleep and a non-judgmental place to eat and get clean.
I hope our government brings changes to deal with the ever-growing crisis of the fentanyl insanity. Wake up people! Isn’t it obvious we are crying out for help? Thank God I got the support I needed. I was almost a statistic.
Melanie Roussel, Surrey
Sanitation services lacking
Re: Recyclables pile up over holidays, Dec. 29
On Thursday, Dec. 8, our recycling was not picked up. We phoned 311, but Smithrite never came that week.
On Dec. 15, our recycling was not picked up. We phoned 311 and insisted Smithrite come. On Thursday, Dec. 22, our recycling and garbage were not picked up.
We phoned 311, the operator argued, but we persisted. Our garbage can is overflowing. Animals will spread the garbage all over the ground. As of Dec. 29, nothing has been picked up. This service is not good enough. We should not have to phone 311 every week. Why is the city raising taxes more than the rate of inflation for this shoddy service? I pay my taxes on time every year. The least the city can do is live up to its sanitation service schedule.
City council should be ensuring the city services are functioning properly, instead of spending their time trying to do the federal and provincial governments’ jobs.
Dale Laird, Vancouver
B.C. gov’t ads you won’t see
Re: Clark on the offensive with timely ad blitz, Column, Dec. 29
Government advertising of the first-time homebuyer ownership program at taxpayer expense is just another example of why Premier Christy Clark doesn’t deserve to be re-elected. The only beneficiaries are the developers and condo marketers who no doubt attend the infamous Liberal Party fundraising events.
In contrast, how about a list of the events and issues that we won’t see advertised anytime soon? Here goes: Ethnic outreach programs; how to make decisions without leaving any paper or electronic trails; how to delete emails in three easy moves; an explanation from Clark as to why going to a fundraiser was more important for the province than staying in the legislature and voting on an historic and landmark transgender bill; the health ministry scandal; the ministry of children and family development and its scandals; how the government is proactively dealing with the fentanyl crisis; the 500 phantom care beds; and an exact accounting for the $20 billion claimed to have been spent so far on LNG projects. David Peelo, Surrey