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LunaticSVT · 03-17-2005, 19:03

Just over the United States northwest border, addicts will soon be able to get their fix from the Canadian government in the form of free heroin (search) administered by nurses and doctors on the taxpayer's dime. "They're using heroin. They'll continue to use heroin. What we're trying to do is prevent them from getting something irreversible like HIV, hep [hepatitis] C and overdose death,” said Dr. Martin Schechter, the director of the heroin program.

Vancouver is the first city to take part in the North American Opiate Medication Initiative, which plans to enroll 470 participants at three sites in Canada. The Toronto and Montreal sites are expected to begin recruiting candidates this spring.

Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham (search) is among supporters who say the heroin giveaway will let junkies shoot up without having to resort to theft or prostitution to buy their drugs. Breaking that cycle of crime, they argue, is the first step toward turning an addict's life around.

“I’m not a medical expert, this is not my field. I'm an expert in public safety," Graham said. "And if this will help reduce the crime rate — I'm all for it."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150076,00.html

lukeh · 03-18-2005, 01:38

That is a very,very,very bad idea and is flawed in oh so many way's.

bossxr8 · 03-19-2005, 16:48

How is stopping these oxygen thieve junkies from dying of an OD a good thing. The less there are of them the better.

LunaticSVT · 03-19-2005, 17:25

Exactly.

Big Daddy · 03-20-2005, 16:59

Hell!!! Can you imagine the population boom they're gonna have in Canada when all the closet smack users catch wind of this.

XR8fella · 03-21-2005, 00:05

Blame Canada !

Ghia5L · 03-21-2005, 16:07

I recall a few years back a TV show about some wonder drug that acted as an antedote for heroin. It would neutralise the effects of heroin or something like that. It was trialled on various people, and one guy (a truckie who was hooked on both speed and heroin... speed for when he was driving!) abused this trial and loaded himself up with heroin whilst on the antedote. Although he injected enough heroin to effectively render him in a coma, the antedote "held off" the effects, so he treated it as a bragging right or something like that.

I wonder what ever happened to this antidote? The start of this show showed the "cold turkey" approach where addicts were strapped to beds and were physically writhing in agony. Reminded me of The Exorsist!

Makes you wonder why people get onto it in the first place... Sure, it can be seen as an escape factor for if you're leading a terrible life (ie abuse/prostitution/poverty/etc) but the life-wrecking effects must certainly be well known by now! Then again, AIDS is still rampant due to false beliefs like pwning a virgin will cure you...

-Dave-

loxxr6 · 03-21-2005, 22:49

Quote:

How is stopping these oxygen thieve junkies from dying of an OD a good thing. The less there are of them the better.

Beat me to it....

DRU842 · 03-22-2005, 10:53

This is a total can of worms. Not sure how Canada plans to source the heroin, as its manufacture is illegal under International treaties, which I assume Canada is a signatory. How the hell they plan to keep the trial secure is anyone's guess. This is the reason most of these programs head for a heroin replacement, such as methadone.

Kypez · 03-22-2005, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

Makes you wonder why people get onto it in the first place... Sure, it can be seen as an escape factor for if you're leading a terrible life (ie abuse/prostitution/poverty/etc) but the life-wrecking effects must certainly be well known by now! -Dave-

Its not only poor people or people living a battered life. Whats the excuse for rich people that you keep reading about and movie stars?!

Also, it doesnt seem that far fetched. Right here in Sydeny we have Government backed Shooting Rooms. They are about the same, though I dont know if they supply the heroin... cant remember.