This is a response to federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre's “common sense” answer to addiction.
My grandson, Derek, died of fentanyl poisoning four years ago this October. I will never forget the smell of death when I found him and tried to resuscitate him two days too late. Derek was 27 years old when he died alone in his apartment. He was ashamed that he was using drugs again. He had been to abstinence-based treatment programs three times and attended Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Others in my family and among my friends have found relief from addictions in these programs. We spent lots of money on Derek’s treatment but for Derek, these types of programs were not enough. Unfortunately, my approach was strictly abstinence-based. I encouraged him when he decided not to take suboxone treatment. I ignored a suggestion that Dr. Gabor Matte had championed of using a hallucinogen to treat the disease.
After Derek's death, I searched for help and found Moms Stop The Harm. They have support groups for survivors who have experienced the death of a loved one and groups for those living with a loved one afflicted with addiction. They also advocate for an all-inclusive approach to addiction. An example of the success of this all-inclusive approach is addictions counsellor Guy Felicita. Today, Guy has two healthy children and a wife and has been “clean” for years. Guy credits his success to the safe supply consumption site in Vancouver. He consumed the safe drugs and accessed on-site counseling for years until he felt he could end his reliance on drugs. He succeeded and now pays forward the grace he received.
These sites may look like nothing more than “drug dens” to Pierre Poilievre, but they are part of a legitimate spectrum of support for people dealing with addiction.
With today's poisoned drug supply, saving lives should be priority No. 1. Unlike a slip in AA where an alcoholic drinks again and then can resume their AA program because they have a safe supply easily available so their slip doesn’t kill them, a slip in NA may well lead to immediate death due to the poisoned drug supply available to them.
I realize Mr. Poilievre is on a roll with simple solutions to complex problems. I hope he reconsiders. Since the Conservatives in Alberta have begun closing safe consumption sites, drug poisonings have increased dramatically. The only way the Conservative approach reduces addictions is by killing the people who are addicted. I live with the knowledge that I was encouraging abstinence before Derek was ready for it and that contributed to his death. If the Conservative leader implements this “common sense” solution, his conscience will need to deal with the death of thousands.
Dave Connell
Saanich
