It's the New Canada! With a New Government!

[viktor_haag]

And, apparently, the Ottawa municipal government is quite happy for crack users to contract Hep C and/or HIV, and then deal with the health consequences. A classic example of gains in short-term optics at the expense of long-term social costs.

The bit I love is this -- Ottawa's crack kit program cost the city 8,000 dollars per year.

Wow. That saved a lot of money.

Comments

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

It's yet another example of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Stupid choice nonetheless.

::B::

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

The article (and no doubt the councillors behind this decision) were very careful to point out that this isn't a matter of money. It's about not wanting to "encourage drug use" by passing out free crack kits. I suppose this falls firmly into the same dubious-logic morass as "we don't tell teens how to put on a condom because we don't want them to have sex".

Canada! The caring society!

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

(scratches head) I'm even more baffled. Use dirty equipment=get a chronic, possibly fatal disease; use clean equipment=live long enough and healthy enough to get the help you need to kick your drug habit.

This 'not wanting to encourage drug use' is simply a PR phrase for these moralistic Ottawa City councillors to cover up what they really mean, that 'drug users get what they deserve because of their addictions', despite the fact that the public health care system covers many of the costs of the adverse events associated with other addictive life-style choices (ie. smoking, drinking, etc.).

::B::

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

I believe we are in violent agreement on this issue, Doc.