To the editor,
Last week, I witnessed two RCMP officers unwrapping a yellow sheet to be placed over a body laying on the sidewalk. Someone’s brother, child or perhaps even a father.
I have been around the problem of addictions and mental health for over 20 years. I am witnessing dealer to overdose in a matter of seconds.
Where I work, we have four clinics each trying to provide a method to help those with an addiction problem. Yes, there are many who have been very successful in receiving help and have been reunited with their families and have lived to share their experience. Thousands of others have not. Six dead on a single block not too long ago.
My first blame is to the ideology. We need to protect the non-profit sector. There is plenty of money and help for those who identify as a non-profit, but not for anyone else.
I doubt very much that any person who has stopped breathing from an opioid overdose cares who is trying to save their lives or where they got the products to use. Then again, after resuscitation from respiratory failure those addicted simply get up and do it again.
I keep calling for round-table discussions. Governments on all levels have auctioned off the round tables. Conference-style elongated ones designed for bureaucratic meetings are all that is left.
I really feel very sad to families of those who have found themselves addicted to opioids. Despite all the government rhetoric and silo building, families are trying to reach out to whomever will listen. Perhaps a judge will issue an arrest warrant to get someone into the hospital for mental health help. Two cases I know of. Just said no to one, another judge issued the warrant, but the person was released the same night. I understand both have passed.
It is only going to get worse. Anyone care to ask why?
Rick Hyne, Nanaimo
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