“We really need to look for innovative solutions in this province,” Quigley said. “We have very high levels of addiction and a lot of violence stems from addiction problems in our communities.”
Drug-related violence and gang violence are two other major addiction-related problems, and to solve them, Quigley said more thought needs to be thought out of the box to eliminate the profitability of illegal selling. of drugs. This may include safe consumption places, something that British Columbia has also advanced with, but something that has slowed Saskatchewan.
“How can we eliminate the lucrative aspect of drug trafficking so that it does not lead to violence and other crime-related problems?” said Quigley. “Making sure people addicted to drugs have safe drugs to use. We’re seeing some reluctance on the part of our government here.”
While the small limit on drugs for personal use will not directly eliminate overdoses, there is a way Quigley said it could make a small dent in the problem.
“The positive thing I see is reducing the stigma surrounding drug use,” Quigley said. “We know that there is a lot of stigma in society and that people are driven underground when they use drugs. If you are alone, under supervision or in the company of other people, you are much more likely to be overdose and do not receive any help “.
Quigley added that the federal government does not always want to go into areas of provincial jurisdiction, which could explain why they are not currently trying to promote it anywhere other than British Columbia.
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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP