
Addiction and mental illness in Victoria
#4741
Posted 08 October 2024 - 10:41 AM
#4744
Posted 08 October 2024 - 11:49 AM
I wouldn't characterize it as "failed public policy" but rather as a deliberately evil effort to create an industry employing thousands and costing billions taking advantage of unfortunate people in desperate need of real help.
- phx, dasmo, E2V and 1 other like this
#4745
Posted 08 October 2024 - 04:39 PM
I wouldn't characterize it as "failed public policy" but rather as a deliberately evil effort to create an industry employing thousands and costing billions taking advantage of unfortunate people in desperate need of real help.
I don’t think it’s intentionally evil. Like all historical events, the perpetrators believe they are doing good (Mao, residential schools, the holocaust, etc.)
These policy makers are true believers in “evidence based policy” and the so called experts on addiction have loads of research showing that “harm reduction” is the approach that saves the most lives.
That may be true. But I think we’ve moved past harm reduction to harm promotion.
- Victoria Watcher likes this
#4747
Posted 10 October 2024 - 05:01 AM
Rustad made the typical rookie mistake for those who've had limited exposure to the streets of Vancouver (and to a degree, Victoria) over the past couple of decades. Rule #1 is that you first presume everybody you see draped over curbs and sprawled over wet sidewalks to be alive until such time as they're proven not to be.
Even here in Victoria, for those concerned enough to take the time, As Mike noted he did in another post today, I too have waited on a sidewalk beside somebody looking very much "passed" until I saw their chest rise and fall in rhythm before I walked away.
Regardless, Rustad's street cred moved down a notch or two as a result of his inadvertant tall tale.
Some voters will recognize this as the observations of a "street rookie", whereas others will see it as a blatant fabrication. Either way Rustad should henceforth speak only on what he's certain of, as he can definitely do without any of these types of negative news stories less than two weeks out from the election.
Edited by Blair M., 10 October 2024 - 05:08 AM.
#4748
Posted 10 October 2024 - 06:42 AM
Sarah Montgomery, who has been in the news recently over the City of Victoria’s backing of a social services hub on Dowler Place and whose husband was suspended for a day by the Victoria Fire Department following a letter the man issued to the Premier of BC, has released her own open letter to David Eby. Montgomery says Premier Eby’s “response has been limited to words without meaningful action.” Read the full letter below:
Dear Premier Eby,
I am writing to you as a concerned resident of Victoria and as a mother. While I appreciate the time you have taken to meet with my husband, Josh, and listen to our concerns, I must express my frustration and disappointment that no concrete action was taken to address the very real safety issues shared by our community related to SOLID outreach.
As a lifelong NDP supporter, I am deeply disappointed that the leader of our province has been unable to offer more than words of support in a situation that threatens the safety of my family and our community. As a fellow parent, I know you understand the importance of feeling safe in the place where we raise our children. The plan to relocate services to 2155 Dowler Place for a high-risk population—including drug users and individuals with severe mental health challenges—into a residential area, without proper consultation or preparation, has left many of us extremely concerned. We’ve seen the issues that have arisen in other parts of the province, such as the disorder around Stephen Village in Kelowna, and we reasonably fear that opening 2155 Dowler Place will lead to similar risks for our community.
Despite my husband’s attempts to seek your help, your response has been limited to words without meaningful action. I understand the need for social services and support for vulnerable people, but this decision has been made at the expense of those of us who call this neighborhood home, including other vulnerable groups—children, seniors, and people with disabilities. I believe in the importance of compassion and community care, but it cannot come at the cost of the safety of our children and the families who live here.
I’m asking you for immediate intervention. The concerns of local residents need to be taken seriously, just as you did when you responded to the concerns of residents near the planned supportive-housing development in Richmond, which was halted. Please work with the City of Victoria to find a solution that prioritizes both the needs of the unhoused and the safety of the families living in the area.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I sincerely hope to see action that reflects the seriousness of our concerns.
Sincerely,
Sarah Montgomery
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#4749
Posted 10 October 2024 - 07:14 AM
Sarah, you got what you voted for, and if you have not figured it out yet, you and your family dont count, Did you expect that you would?
#4750
Posted 10 October 2024 - 09:20 AM
https://www.cbc.ca/n...emier-1.6525775
#4751
Posted 10 October 2024 - 09:23 AM
#4752
Posted 10 October 2024 - 12:55 PM
But in reality it’s just a new neighbour as BC Housing says, revived from his latest overdose. And there are 40 residents with addictions living with him, and at any moment, the same scenario repeats itself and the ambulance crews return to revive another neighbour for another time.
Now while this is happening, across town someone who has fallen, or is in medical distress, for them an ambulance is not available. If they’re lucky, a supervisor will arrive in their SUV, after an hour plus wait, in pain. Maybe. But probably not. For you there is no ambulance and if you do get to the hospital eventually, you’ll spend 12 hours at emergency, probably more. If you are admitted, there’s a good chance the person next to you in your room has addictions issues and can have an episode at any time. You don’t sleep, because you’re worried about your safety, and the staff don’t appreciate you voicing your worries.
This is an account of someone I know who went through such an ordeal.
- Matt R., Love the rock, Victoria Watcher and 1 other like this
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#4753
Posted 10 October 2024 - 01:19 PM
Rustad made the typical rookie mistake for those who've had limited exposure to the streets of Vancouver (and to a degree, Victoria) over the past couple of decades. Rule #1 is that you first presume everybody you see draped over curbs and sprawled over wet sidewalks to be alive until such time as they're proven not to be.
Even here in Victoria, for those concerned enough to take the time, As Mike noted he did in another post today, I too have waited on a sidewalk beside somebody looking very much "passed" until I saw their chest rise and fall in rhythm before I walked away.
Regardless, Rustad's street cred moved down a notch or two as a result of his inadvertant tall tale.
Some voters will recognize this as the observations of a "street rookie", whereas others will see it as a blatant fabrication. Either way Rustad should henceforth speak only on what he's certain of, as he can definitely do without any of these types of negative news stories less than two weeks out from the election.
No they wont. This is everyone's real experience. That this is your rule#1 is proof....
#4754
Posted 10 October 2024 - 02:12 PM
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he supports children and prisoners who are incapable of making decisions for themselves getting mandatory, involuntary drug and psychiatric treatment.
That comes after the parents of a 13-year-old girl from B.C. testified at a parliamentary committee about her mental health struggles before her overdose death in an encampment of homeless people in Abbotsford, B.C.
They said their daughter was discharged from care despite their repeated attempts to keep her in treatment.
“There is no question in my mind that she should have been in mandatory, involuntary psychic and substance abuse treatment rather than in a homeless encampment in a tent,” Poilievre said.
He said earlier this summer he was open to the idea, but needed to study the issue more closely.
https://globalnews.c...-and-prisoners/
Brianna MacDonald died last month in an Abbotsford, B.C., homeless camp. She was just 13 years old.
Her death was caused by a suspected overdose, according to her family. And her grieving parents are urging change so other families don’t have to face what they are going though.
Brianna’s mom said despite the family’s ongoing attempts to get her help for her addictions and mental health issues, their pleas were ignored in a system they said failed Brianna at every turn.
“She was robbed of so much, way too young,” said Brianna’s tearful mother, Sarah MacDonald.
Brianna’s story is tragic and complex. Her mom said her daughter started smoking pot at just 10-and-a-half years old.
“I got very upset with her. We had many talks about why it was dangerous and how she was way too young,” recalled Sarah MacDonald.
By age 12, Brianna was using a drug known as “molly.” And family said the more they tried to get her to stop, the more it seemed she wanted to use.
https://bc.ctvnews.c...re going though.
Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 October 2024 - 02:14 PM.
#4755
Posted 11 October 2024 - 05:37 PM
Yeah, dude in Vancouver was "revived"... in other words.. he died, and undied. Rustad was correct... he saw a DEAD man. Coroner doesn't have a file because the man UNDIED. Coroner is only for VERY DEAD, and not for "revived", aka "not dead anymore" people.
Edited by Mike P., 11 October 2024 - 05:44 PM.
#4756
Posted 11 October 2024 - 05:39 PM
Yeah, dude in Vancouver was "revived"... in other words.. he died, and undied. Rustad was correct... he saw a DEAD man.
Everyone is like "nobody died where you said!" Yet about 5 people did die that day in Vancouver. And 20 more since then.
- Mike P. likes this
#4757
Posted 11 October 2024 - 05:46 PM
https://x.com/Vancit...864971760410757
Get your welfare cheque, then drop $120 to pre-pay for 6 beers a day all month.
We have minimum drink prices in BC to try to curb exessive drinking. These 66-cent beers undermines that.
Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 October 2024 - 05:50 PM.
#4758
Posted 11 October 2024 - 05:46 PM
Right? And they were all like... oh but the coroner doesn't have a record of anyone dying there... YEAH, because he was REVIVED... after he died.
- Victoria Watcher likes this
#4759
Posted 11 October 2024 - 05:49 PM
Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages
cor·o·ner
/ˈkôrənər/
noun
- an official who investigates violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths....
In other words, not *REVIVED* people... Just dead people, very very dead, not breathing anymore... dead as dead can be, people.
Edited by Mike P., 11 October 2024 - 05:52 PM.
#4760
Posted 11 October 2024 - 06:20 PM
You notice the communist star in the PHS logo?
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