Real Change reports Ibogaine is the rumored “wonder drug” of addiction treatment. More effective than methadone at combating withdrawal symptoms, more potent than peyote. And very illegal.While Portlanders argue over street names, Seattlites are talking drug reform.
San Francisco ponders the first injection site for drug addicts in the U.S
Vancouver, B.C.'s health department already offers an injection site
Instead of locking addicts up in our county jails, advocating for failed drug-free zones and empowering police officers to work with addicts instead of health care providers in our neighborhoods - shouldn't we be talking drug reform in Portland?
2 comments:
Drug reform would have to happen at the federal level, and isn't likely with this Administration. But "locking addicts up in our county jails, advocating for failed drug-free zones and empowering police officers to work with addicts instead of health care providers in our neighborhoods" are all policies we have the power to change right here in Portland. Shouldn't we be talking about the choices we have, here?
Yes, you are correct. We should be talking about the choices we have in the context of how we deal with addiction, especially in public view...
I think a injection room should be on our radar screen, and hiring more outreach workers to be working with the addicts and peddlers on the streets.
And while we can't change federal policy. We should at least be asking hard questions of how and why the hard stuff is making it to our streets, while continued outcry is for the addict on the street.
I'm constandly amazed at how business owners, neighborhood activists and others can demand that addicts be swept off the streets by any means necessary, but not bring pressure on our local U.S. Attorney's office, and others to be cracking the hard nuts.
Thanks for commenting Amanda.
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