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THREAD THURSDAY #3: DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION
@jjhorgan wants to incarcerate young drug users. this is a terrible move that will kill people. why? well... 1/ #bcpoli https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/premier-wants-law-allowing-detaining-of-youth-who-overdosed-3208212
@jjhorgan wants to incarcerate young drug users. this is a terrible move that will kill people. why? well... 1/ #bcpoli https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/premier-wants-law-allowing-detaining-of-youth-who-overdosed-3208212
first, addiction is best thought of as a coping mechanism in circumstances of deep emotional pain
if minors are using drugs to escape toxic home environments, incarcerating them until they can be handed back to their abusers solves nothing 2/
if minors are using drugs to escape toxic home environments, incarcerating them until they can be handed back to their abusers solves nothing 2/
as dr. gabor maté says, "The question is not why the addiction, but why the pain." to help addicts, we must therefore improve their financial and social circumstances
forcibly removing them from their jobs and communities is the exact opposite of that 3/ https://drgabormate.com/opioids-universal-experience-addiction/
forcibly removing them from their jobs and communities is the exact opposite of that 3/ https://drgabormate.com/opioids-universal-experience-addiction/
this july article illustrates the depth of incompetence or arrogance required to bypass consultation & push forward with this disaster of a bill
"Youth who have overdosed need wrap-around services, not to be cut off from their family and community." 4/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/28/BC-Pauses-Youth-Detention-Overdose-Bill/
"Youth who have overdosed need wrap-around services, not to be cut off from their family and community." 4/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/28/BC-Pauses-Youth-Detention-Overdose-Bill/
"The chief coroner with the BC Coroners Service, Lisa Lapointe, has also expressed concern about the bill, saying... there was potential for serious unintended consequences including an increase in deaths."
not cool, @jjhorgan 5/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/28/BC-Pauses-Youth-Detention-Overdose-Bill/
not cool, @jjhorgan 5/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/28/BC-Pauses-Youth-Detention-Overdose-Bill/
and a 2018 report found that "by forcing youth to abstain from substances for seven days and then releasing them without continued support, their risk of overdose actually increases."
yikes 6/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/23/Detaining-Youth-Overdosing-Wrong-Move/
yikes 6/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/23/Detaining-Youth-Overdosing-Wrong-Move/
but it gets worse.
"Fear of detention may also drive fewer and fewer youth to call 911 or access supports when they are at risk of overdosing... It creates this chilling effect where youth don’t ask for help." 7/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/23/Detaining-Youth-Overdosing-Wrong-Move/
"Fear of detention may also drive fewer and fewer youth to call 911 or access supports when they are at risk of overdosing... It creates this chilling effect where youth don’t ask for help." 7/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/07/23/Detaining-Youth-Overdosing-Wrong-Move/
some of us can personally recall stories of people using drugs at their friends' parents' houses, overdosing, and needing medical support...
...but instead of calling an ambulance, driving the victim to the ER while intoxicated to avoid police scrutiny 8/
...but instead of calling an ambulance, driving the victim to the ER while intoxicated to avoid police scrutiny 8/
this is merely what's done to protect the parents and everyone else involved from implication in what our backwards legal system regards as crimes to be punished
because drug laws built on shame and persecution punish people who seek help honestly 9/
because drug laws built on shame and persecution punish people who seek help honestly 9/
we. need. decriminalization. this is uncontroversial among experts - @DrBonnieHenry has even provided a roadmap for the province to follow in decriminalizing 10/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bonnie-henry-decriminalization-report-1.5108463
but instead of taking action to save lives, @bcndp has called on @liberal_party to do it for them
yes, that same @liberal_party which has vocally & repeatedly refused to decriminalize since taking power 11/ https://globalnews.ca/news/5946329/trudeau-liberals-decriminalize-drugs/
yes, that same @liberal_party which has vocally & repeatedly refused to decriminalize since taking power 11/ https://globalnews.ca/news/5946329/trudeau-liberals-decriminalize-drugs/
we can only speculate that by talking about the solution without enacting it, @bcndp wants to bolster its "progressive" image among activists... without actually rocking the boat and making enemies 12/
it's the same #TalkAndLog tactic they use to look good while annihilating #oldgrowth 13/ https://twitter.com/SoniaFurstenau/status/1340070577202057216
but to make things better and not worse, we need decriminalization, safe supply, accessible treatment programs, and community support services.
we do not need to handcuff people to hospital beds. 14/14
we do not need to handcuff people to hospital beds. 14/14
big thanks to @rabbitonthelamb for his contributions to this thread! also, our apologies to readers who were expecting a thread on 21st-century fascism this week - we'll be posting the fascism thread next week; follow us and you won't miss it! cheers 
