Monday, Jan. 6: 'Safer supply' policies don't seem to be working; we need to focus on the underlying causes of drug abuse, says a reader. You can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Re: Crisis, chaos, concern: Ottawa’s large experiment with ‘safer’ opioids could be nearing an end, Dec. 30.

This article about safe drug supply systems and the problems they cause for local residents and businesses was very valuable. But it was about the symptoms of a societal problem, not the root causes.

How is it that people get into these difficult situations and become homeless, suffer mental damage from continued use or die from overdoses? If we continue to focus on symptoms alone, the problem will always be with us. This is the story that we need to hear.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

The reasons that make people turn to drugs and alcohol are many: children who are perhaps thrown out of their homes; children in families where parents have addiction problems; people losing jobs, families and homes then turning to the solace of drugs; or young people enticed by a better high with unanticipated consequences. Who knows?

A more caring society would seek out and address root causes. It would cost more in the short term, but think of what it might save in human and financial terms later on.

I too often hear that we can’t afford such provisions. But treatment agencies end up spending inordinate amounts of time fundraising, and never seeming to get enough, instead of having adequate public/government support so they can focus on care. As one of the worlds wealthiest societies, it is not a question of having enough, but of distributing it more fairly.

Instead, we feature articles on the 100 wealthiest Canadians; on the latest multimillion sports contract; on how a highly paid baseball player gets more for hitting a home run that our prime minister’s annual salary; or how a corporate CEO pays less tax than his secretary.

Meanwhile, people are living in poverty or ending up in the street or trapped by drugs because they can’t cope. Those struggling are our neighbours. Or they might be one of our children, brothers or sisters. If Canada is broken, it is because too many are focused on “me” rather than “us.”

Michael Wiggin, Ottawa

Andrew Duffy reports “The number of confirmed overdose deaths has increased in Ottawa in each of the past four years.” Obviously, an important conclusion is that the current program of safe supply sites has failed to save lives. Another important conclusion is that safe supply drugs result in new addicts, a form of collateral damage.

We can also conclude that various statements made over the years by the proponents of safe supply sites are basedon personal opinions, not rational analysis.

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. We need to change direction when it comes to drug addiction.

André Corriveau, Stittsville

The recent article in the Citizen mentions that $9.6 million was budgeted by the federal government to support the safe supply program in Ottawa, and OHIP covers off drug costs over and above that for some 500 addicts.

The drugs given out are 13 times the limit per day that can be prescribed for chronic back pain for the general population.

The worrisome fact is that pills are given to these regular users in bulk and apparently they are subsequently traded off for more potent street drugs.

This is costing us the safe use of our downtown core. Policing is merely a cosmetic presence as courts and jails are useless for disciplining addicts.

Government detox centres could be introduced in those large empty buildings such as the Sir Charles Tupper........

© Ottawa Citizen