I think we have the worst drug ghetto in the whole world as even a renowned drug decriminalization adcocate from Portugal was shocked at what he saw here. He also said decriminalization of drugs here won't solve our problem. Interesting! I think this city must do much more, even introducing tougher measures, instead of letting the problem fester out of control.
https://www.straight.com/news/961186/van...ays-fentanyl-should-be-declared-national
Dr. João Goulão has received international attention for the lead role he played in Portugal’s fundamental shift in drug policy. It culminated with a massive investment in treatment options and, in 2001, the decriminalization of illicit narcotics, including cocaine and heroin. In subsequent years, such progressive policies resulted in invitations from around the world.
This morning (September 6), Goulão visited Vancouver for his first time. He began the trip with a tour of addiction and harm-reduction programs in the Downtown Eastside. Goulão said he was shocked by what he saw.
“This concentration, in a single spot, I was not expecting it,” he told reporters who met on the street after he completed his walk around the neighbourhood.
“Even in the difficult ‘90s, when we had a huge epidemic of heroin, the population was quite different from what I have seen here,” Goulão continued. “We cannot compare to the size and the kind of population that you have here. And we are not facing, yet—I hope we will never face—the problem of fentanyl.”
CKNW’s Jeremy Lye asked if he believes Canada’s fentanyl crisis should be declared a national health emergency.
“I really think so,” Goulão responded. “Because of the number of overdose deaths that you are having. It’s a very, very important problem of public health. And so you have to deal with it in a brave way.”
The number that Goulão referred to is expected to surpass 1,500 in B.C. this year, up from 269 fatal overdoses just five years earlier, in 2012.
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