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Policy?


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#1 MontyBaby

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Posted 23 September 2007 - 08:41 AM

Hello

I am brand new to this forum! I did not know that something such as this forum existed, glad I found it!
I am in the process of trying to put together a project for a class of mine; I have read most of the posts that have gone on in regards to the Homeless/drug issues in Victoria. Although usually viewed as synonymous with one another, I feel they need to be treated as two separate issues. It is a huge problem right now, it is easy to blame and to become extremely frustrated, I know I am, believe me! The last few times I have walked from Chinatown along wharf towards the legislative building it has been nothing but annoying, disgusting, sad, and scary. How did the city let it get to this point, where we have human beings laying in the middle of the sidewalk, track marks all up their arms needles surrounding them. It is hard to find compassion for someone who is begging you for money while the evidence of their last purchase is lying on the public street beside them! I completely agree that not everyone on the street is a IDU (Intravenous Drug User) or substance abuser, there are many people that are the "working poor". But so how do we find a way to begin to treat this issue without lumping everyone into the same category? Is a SIS (safe injection site) the answer? It is hard; how do we protect the individual rights of each person but at the same time enforce the laws that are supposed to govern our society, one of which is to protect community and the public from harm. Victoria has report after report, after report, documenting all kinds of stats for drug use, all kinds of drug use, for crime rates, Possession charges you name it. In 2004 there was a report that was presented to Victoria Council outlining the need for a SIS (safe injection site) to reduce "Harm", one of the outcomes that is suppose to be accomplished with a SIS, is to help harm reduction specifically in regards to IDU's, and in turn to public and the community. Although we do not yet have a SIS, Victoria does have a "needle exchange", and a mobile needle exchange, this service has not, in my opinion, helped with any of the "downtown issues". It has only given IDU's a place to go to get more needles, it has not stopped or lessened the debris that is scattered all over the downtown core. Would a SIS help to alleviate the issues surrounding IDU's in Victoria, Would a SIS give the IDU's on the street the help that they need? If there was to be a SIS, they would only be responsible for what happens within the walls of the clinic, in the report they say that they would maintain a clean outside as well. Some would argue the all that a SIS would do Vic is provide people with an exemption from section 56 of the CDSA. Since the Needle Exchange is not an SIS, how come people are can shoot up where ever and whenever they would like, and leave potentially harmful objects in their wake. Who is or should be responsible for dealing with the current situation?
Anyway sorry for the verbal diatribe... My point was... I am doing this project on Policy analysis and I am doing the Drug issue in Victoria, and did you know I cannot find a single POLICY on public drug use or safe streets, the only policy I can find is a "Good neighbour" policy. There is nothing that would give the community and public a guideline, there is not a single policy surrounding any of the issues that have been discussed i.e. homelessness’, illicit intravenous drug IN public! It is illegal to drink in public on the streets, it is illegal to just be drunk and disorderly in public, where is the policy on shooting up in public? You cannot litter or you will be fined, were is the policy on leaving IV drug paraphernalia all over so that a child could step on it or pick it up? Everyone has the right to basic rights, needs; ect... where is the policy that protects those that need help the most? The government has money to give to a new sports center being erected behind Camosun interurban, The government has the money to invest in their own salaries, Our lovely Mayor says it is the number one issue... ok...so what are we going to do about it? How come the number one issue gets the least attention? It is not about having more police arresting people; this will work short term, but happens when they get out? Where is the TREATMENT, we do not need a band aid, we need TREATMENTS! So my question is what types of policies should there be?

#2 G-Man

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Posted 23 September 2007 - 10:49 AM

Hi Montybaby,

Welcome to the forum. I think it is important as you point out to seperate the working poor on the street and IV Drug users.

The bonus of A SIS is that you give the drug user a chance to ask for help this is something that has happened in Vancouver but without the treatment beds aavilable to put them in right away when they ask the person usually has reverted to there drugs before a space has opened up. As for a policy I believe the Mayor's taskforce is building precisely that.

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#3 MontyBaby

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Posted 23 September 2007 - 10:58 AM

thank you for the welcome!

In what ways is the Mayor's task force building policy? I may just not be as informed as I should be perhaps :)
HOw are they dealing with? I know there are a lot of press conferences and reports and such... but action wise? what types of polices are they putting together? Or have initiated?

thank you so much for the input!

#4 Rob Randall

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Posted 23 September 2007 - 11:48 AM

There have been studies done before, but the Mayor's Task Force on Social Issues (to be released October 15) comes with an Action Plan based on [url=http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/mhd/bpelementsbc.html:8be2c]best practices[/url:8be2c] concepts from here and around the world. This Action Plan will represent a transformational change in the way we look at social issues. It goes beyond institutional thinking based on buildings (a needle exchange; a homeless shelter etc) and targets the individual person.

Your other question deals with enforcement. We have had many discussions with police on this issue.

In short, there are simply little resources for handling low-level crimes. The police are at their limit already. It would take sixty additional officers to bring us up to the Provincial average in terms of caseload! Each officer costs $100,000 annually.

Threshold for calling 911:


-drug deals or any crime in progress (including graffiti, especially if there is a good chance the perp can be caught. Discreetly watch and feed the information to the 911 operator). Note that successful drug prosecutions are a result of extensive undercover sting operations. Common dealing is routinely ignored by the current Justice System due to the poor chance of a conviction.

-drug use: call 911 if there are extenuating circumstances, like if you believe a child is involved.

-a person, drug user or otherwise who may be in jeopardy to themselves or others (including "[url=http://www.stopdrugs.org/tweaking.html:8be2c]tweaking[/url:8be2c]").

 



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