Dear Editor;
The link between increased crime and drug use has long been recognized. However, it is important to note that the relationship is far more nuanced than a “just say no” policy allows. Such a perspective judges the addict for not having the willpower to refuse a powerful substance that offers relief from unimaginable physical and psychological pain.
If you are going to take something away, you have to replace it with something else. Prohibition and criminalization of drugs and drug use create the conditions of poverty and marginalization that drive property crime.
The opioid crisis began with the overprescribing of oxycodone by the medical establishment. Aggressive and misleading marketing pushed this “miracle drug” on millions. When the devastating addictive properties became glaringly obvious, new regulations and restrictive guidelines were established to limit its use. Many were suddenly cut off from the only thing that had brought them relief.
The black market responded with fentanyl, a similar drug that is cheaper but harder to mix with precision. The potency of fentanyl is inconsistent, leading to overdoses and death.
And yet, humans with pain still seek relief. As a society, we need to provide that relief in a safe and accessible way, reducing crime and poverty but, more importantly, preventing death.
Complex problems require creative solutions, ones that foster connection and understanding, not stigmatization. Here on Haida Gwaii, I know we can offer more than “just say no.”
Janet Rigg
Tlell
