Main and Hastings Drugs are sold and used in this area

Vancouver B.C., by Frank Dawson

       Global Television is reporting Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan as saying “give them free drugs”. Sullivan is referring to the  800 or so addicts on the Downtown East Side. Giving the addicts free drugs won’t solve any problem. The truth is there are more than 800 problematic drug users on the Downtown East Side. Also just dealing with drug user is not the answer. You must also deal with the drug dealers to.

   For the ones that want it treatment would be a better answer.  For those  who don’t want it charge them, put them through the court system and jail time is what they should get.

   Now I realize this would cost a lot of money and that is why it is not being done. We need more treatment centers for drug addicts . We need more jails for drug pushers and for those who choose to commit crime. FREE Drugs is not the answer at best it might be a band aid approach.

     The DTES is noted for its drug users and pusher.  The drug pushers don’t just sell drugs to people on the Downtown east side. Drug user come from all over to buy drugs there. They definitely are not hard to find. Crack, heroine, and pot are probably the most common. DTES has a Crack epidemic no doubt about it. These users get there money by any means they can. Stealing, prostitution and some resort to conning money out of innocent victims.

       I have seen with my own eyes some of the happening on the DTES and also reported some of the things I witnessed. One thing I will say for sure it will take a lot of money to clean the mess up and obviously cooperation from politicians at all levels. Federal , provincial and local.

Global television has also had reports about the community courts starting up in the new year.

        Community court will only be a start. More jails and good programs will also be needed. Are the politicians just making a big noise or are they sincere in cleaning up this terrible mess.