Show compassion, deal with drug use

Why are Premier David Eby and his NDP government not listening to the people of British Columbia and specifically to the residents of Victoria when it comes to the decriminalization and open use of illicit drugs and safety?

Do they not see what is happening on our streets and our hospitals? Where is the leadership we all have elected and depend on?

It’s time Eby and Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto, who don’t live in Victoria, take a stroll down Pandora, Douglas and other side streets and witness the decline of our beautiful city.

Let’s get something straight. We do not have a housing crisis; we have a serious drug crisis which is causing, among other problems, homelessness, a serious result of addiction.

So, the government’s solution is to provide addicts with free drugs which some of them in turn sell on the streets. I’ve been to many AA meetings with friends who are alcoholics and never once did I ever witness them getting free alcohol to help them with their addiction or ensure they were ingesting safe alcohol.

Sobriety was encouraged and mandatory in AA meetings.

I know there is a difference between alcohol and drug addiction, but what’s the immediate solution to the drug crisis? Reverse the law,

like Oregon did, on decriminalization of illicit drugs, that is, if we really care about these people.

Give the police the power to arrest anyone openly possessing and or using these drugs. Then, give these people the help they need instead of spending money on free drugs and all the other expenses that go along with placating their habits.

The open drug use is not only affecting the addicted, it’s also affecting the rest of the community.

Simple solution? Of course not. But it’s a start to really caring and showing compassion. Like graffiti, if you don’t clean it up, it gets worse.

Susanne Holunga Victoria