Christian Conservative Christian "Independent"

I'm an evangelical Christian, member of the CPC, but presently & unjustly exiled to wander the political wilderness.
All opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

An Appeal That Will Save Lives

I'm thankful that we have a Conservative Government, one who have the guts to stand up against special interests and appeal the awful ruling that's keeping the addiction-prolonging (and crime increasing) Insite open.

Minister Tony Clement has announced that the Government will be appealing the recent Insite ruling.
"The minister said Vancouver has the second highest rate of violent and property crimes of any major city in the United States or Canada. “Law-abiding Vancouverites are beginning to see that what has been presented as a 'victimless crime' - the drug trade - is not victimless at all,” said Mr. Clement."
h/t to Halls of Macadamia

UPDATE: I forgot to post the link to my thoughts on this yesterday, where I don't just rant against Insite... I actually propose my thoughts on solving the problem.

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posted by Christian Conservative @ 3:26 p.m.  

6 Comments:

  • At Thu May 29, 04:16:00 p.m. EDT, Blogger Instigator! said…

    shouldn't a good Christian like yourself feel some empathy for those poor souls addicted to Heroin. Wouldn't Jesus want you to help them out? This is the first step in getting them off the stuff. I think you need to open up your bible and read about Jesus and helping people that are sick.

     

  • At Thu May 29, 04:26:00 p.m. EDT, Blogger Christian Conservative said…

    I do feel empathy... you should read my previous post.

     

  • At Fri May 30, 10:09:00 a.m. EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/pubs/sites-lieux/index_e.html

    it's an interesting read

     

  • At Fri May 30, 11:37:00 a.m. EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    CC: there are numerous studies which indicate that Insite has reduced crime in the area surrounding the site, that addicts using the site have accessed the detox and recovery services offered by Insite and that Insite has saved a number of addicts from overdosing. This doesn't even factor in the number of Hep C and HIV cases that will never develop because users will have access to clean needles.

    As a (former) partner of a recovering heroin addict I have some understanding of addiction and the recovery process. I am fully in support of prevention and MUCH MORE treatment. I admit I don't trust this government to actual spend money on treatment but for now I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

    Funding Insite (and a few more of these sites across Canada) would not deter them from funding either treatment or prevention.

    Some people can and do find recovery by finding God and/or attending 12 step groups and that is wonderful. Many more need a transition process which may include a safe space to inject (Insite) or methadone (which is only different from Heroin in that its narcotic properties are controlled so that it can be used to ween people off other opiates).

    The most important part of insite is that addicts who use the site come into constant contact with health professionals who talk to them consistently about getting off drugs. Professionals who can help them access detox, who can help them get into rehab, who can give them information about NA or AA. Professionals who will not judge them or scorn them or otherwise feed into their personal narrative of worthlessness. I would argue that the most important thing you can do to help someone to recover is reinforce that they are worthy of a sober life.

    I don't doubt your sincerity that you empathize with those who are suffering from addictions. This is a very complex syndrom which often involves multiple factors for many addicts including genetic predisposition, life experience (physical and sexual abuse) and mental illness. Sometimes forcing an addict into treatment via the courts can work but usually the folks ordered by the courts to rehab or NA end up back using fairly quickly. For recovery to work and last it usually requires a personal epiphany that no court, family or church can force.

    I comprehend the ideological reasons for the position taken by the Cons but I think that science and studies should out way ideology on these kind of life and death health issues.

     

  • At Fri May 30, 12:29:00 p.m. EDT, Blogger Christian Conservative said…

    Anon@11:37, while I may disagree with some of your thoughts, I wholeheartedly welcome the sharing of them to the debate.

    Your comment is just the sort that I appreciate, as it serves to expand my horizons just a little bit further.

    Thanks for taking the time to post.

     

  • At Fri May 30, 01:43:00 p.m. EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    your more than welcome. I suspect that you and i would differ on many things given that i am a lesbian feminist lefty but I occasionally read your blog and have been struck by your tone (in a positive way). I find the snarky, one-up-manship on other blogs (blogging tory and lib blogs in particular) to be insufferable most of the time.

     

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