Re: 鈥淪upport grows for decriminalization of small drug amounts,鈥� April 24.
By the end of 2018, just over 4,500 people had died from drug overdoses in sa国际传媒 since the opioid crisis began in 2015. This was 3,200 more deaths than occurred during the four-year period before the beginning of the crisis.
These people are dying because we refuse to provide them with the drugs they need to begin the management of their disease of addiction. I believe that good sense and compassion will eventually triumph.
At some point, the carnage will reach a point that will motivate us to act. Will it take 8,000 deaths, 10,000, 15,000? The numbers will become so atrocious that we will be moved to act. Sadly, it will be too late for thousands of people with addictions and the many more who grieve them.
And future generations will look back on us, shake their heads and wonder how we could have let it go on for so long. Dr. Bonnie Henry鈥檚 report on the decriminalization of drugs is a great start. Now we need only to decide how long we will wait before we move forward on her sensible and compassionate recommendations.
Mike Pennock
Victoria
