I watched a documentary last night about the cost and effect of drug addicts in Canada. Apparently one addict costs the Canadian government $48,000 per year in theft, welfare, police intervention, ambulances, hospitals, etc. Once addicted, it is almost impossible for them to be cured no matter how much therapy they receive.
In B.C., maybe other provinces, they have a safe place where addicts can inject their drug and volunteers are there to call for medical help if and when necessary. There is another program where the drugs are provided but at a level where it doesn't produce a high, only enough to prevent sickness from withdrawal. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad one. The addict remains addicted and his/her life is still decimated by being addicted.
There has to be a better way to prevent people from using the first time. Common sense tells us that everyone should know that taking drugs will ruin their lives but it seems too many haven't been gifted with common sense. We see some horrible images of drug addicts and the life they're forced into to support their habit and those images should be shown to high school students as often as possible. No-one wants to look like a meth addict! No-one wants to resort to prostitution to pay for their drugs. No-one wants to live in a bug infested hovel. Show teens the ugliness of taking drugs. Teach them how quickly one can become addicted. Teach them the outcome.
My generation worried only about alcoholism and how it, too, can destroy your family and your life. It, too, can be addictive and cause the same hell as being addicted to drugs.
I remember as a teen worrying that drinking alcohol meant I wouldn't be in control of myself and being drunk would be unsafe so I actually abstained until I was married. I never have been much of a drinker mainly because I don't like the effect of being fuzzy minded.
Life is full of choices and the sooner we realize that every choice we make has consequences, the better choices we'll make.
No comments:
Post a Comment