Canada

You know why we're at this stage?

Because citizens are sick and tired of being abused by criminals, and they're doubly sick of being told they should feel compassion for the people who steal their stuff, break into their businesses, assault them and/or spoil every park and public space.

Sure, we shouldn't do this specifically. But we should do something (housing, healthcare and--this is the unpleasant one--humanely incarcerating people who are an immediate harm to others and themselves) because doing nothing is going to eventually get us an electorate who will vote for Duterte-style methods.

Voluntary treatment sounds terrible to people who's goal is to help addicts, but literally everyone else doesn't care. They just want to stop being victimized, and telling them that it doesn't really work as well, well, it doesn't matter.

What's extra depressing is I'm sure governments won't spend money on this, either, since the problems of drug crime don't really affect rich people, the taxes needed to pay for a solution--housing, healthcare or incarceration--aren't something they'll pay.

If PP gets in office you better believe he’ll do mean vindictive things like making naloxone prescription-only so nobody can give it away for free.

Well said:

We call for policies that are consistent, evidence-based, and based on harm reduction rather than vilifying drug users with a false morality framework.

If the province and municipalities want to address the murderous toxic drug supply, they should provide a safer supply and expand supervised consumption sites.

If the province and municipalities want to address the housing needs of the thousands of people who cannot afford a place to live, they should prioritize protecting tenant rights and explore non-market housing solutions, such as investments in social housing.

We cannot hide the problems we are faced with in Ontario or warehouse people to pretend we’ve solved underlying issues; we must highlight and challenge systems of neglect, exploitation and harm.