Prolific offender gets time served and acceptance into a rehab program.
Here is why.
Please read to the bottom for a perspective.
"Defence lawyer Murray Armstrong said Worthington had been doing well in life, having worked as a foreman at the Highland Valley Copper mine for some 20 years, but added he and his wife fell on hard times a few years ago due to their drug addictions. The couple has three children — two teens and a three-year-old — who were removed from their home by the government twice despite the pair attending drug treatment, Armstrong said, adding the Worthingtons spiraled from there and wound up living on the streets of Kamloops.
Photo credit to Unsplash
“They ended up losing their house, they lost their car, losing the kids,” Armstrong said."
"Judge Phillips acknowledged Worthington’s desire to get his life together after his fall from grace and agreed to the joint submission of the time served sentence, with no credit for pre-trial custody."
JUDGEMENTALISM
Many, if not most of us can not comprehend the concept of drug addiction.
Consider for the moment, you've sustained an injury the repair of which is considered elective. You have debilitating pain which is not relieved by cannabis or other non-prescription medication. A physician tries various combination of pain medications which don't drop your pain from a 10/10.
The next step is narcotics. The "low level" opioid brings your pain down to a manageable 3/10.
You return to return to work.
Doctor says, "I'm authorizing this for 6 months maximum. If you don't have your shoulder surgery by then, we'll try something else but the narcotics will end."
Three months later you get the call. There is a cancellation. "Can you come in two days from now?"
"Stop taking all medication...including the opioids."
The first 12 hours is not too difficult. Then the hallucinations set in, spiders crawling over your body, in your ears, in your eyes. You shake uncontrollably. You sweat profusely. You mumble. You scream.
You make it through the 48 pre-surgery hours but you are drained.
Hospital blood work shows you are negative for narcotics.
Several staffers look at you strangely as though they didn't think you could kick it cold-turkey.
Surgery is successful. Zero pain but surgeon gives you a prescription for Oxycodone-75 mg.
You tear up the prescription.
If this person wasn't able to quit, he or she might hit the streets to fill their needs.
Research shows that thousands of addicts are functioning citizens who are working their way to oblivion as their narcotic needs rise as their tolerance for the drug increases.
President Reagan initiated the War on Drugs which included covert invasion of Columbia seeking cocaine production facilities. It was a massive failure, cost billions to support and created animosities toward America around the world for its covert actions.
Unsplash photo
"Reagan focused on criminal punishment over treatment led to a massive increase in incarcerations for nonviolent drug offenses, from 50,000 in 1980 to 400,000 in 1997.
To use a cliché, we don't have to reinvent the wheel in addressing the issue.
Switzerland had years of tragedy before they revamped their approach.
"The starting point for rethinking the narcotic drug problem in Switzerland was not the will to innovate, but rather the visible, undeniable failure of existing approaches.
Starting in the 1970s, the eyes of the world turned to Zurich. One of the wealthiest cities in the world, Zurich had become, as one New York Times article later called it, a “bazaar of the bizarre.” Heavy drug users regularly gathered in the city center without shelter, toilets, or showers—just a few meters away from flourishing businesses, banks, and hotels.
Zurich registered the first death from heroin overdose in 1972, and narcotic drug consumption in the city continued to steadily rise. In the early 80s, as a response to the increasingly widespread use of narcotics, the Swiss government revised federal law, and defined rigorous criminal sanctions for the possession, consumption, and sale of illegal drugs.
However, in the years that followed, police struggled with enforcement, and in an effort to regain control, local authorities started to tolerate consumption in “controlled areas,” such as certain parks where police did not make arrests. By the late 80s, thousands of people around the country were openly selling, buying, and consuming drugs."
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/inside_switzerlands_radical_drug_policy_innovation#
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Moira House in North Kamloops under the Halston Bridge recently opened by the government houses previously homeless citizens with either mental health and/or addition issues.
https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/local-news/moira-house-set-to-open-in-kamloops-on-april-15-5236612
Canadian Mental Health Association executive director Alfred Achoba speaks to members of the media outside Moira House shelter on Kingston Avenue. Allen Douglas/KTW
Forty-one small individual rooms (including two that are wheelchair accessible) look like university dorms in what appears to be a large, multi-winged portable. The rooms feature a single bed, desk, dresser and small television.
Those staying at Moira House will include men and women ages 19 and older who are homeless and who have substance-use disorders and/or mental health issues.
Employment skills, on-site case management (including an Indigenous case manager) and recovery and treatment will be available at Moira House.
Achoba said many residents will be ready to attend Street School, a continuing education program provided by School District 73.
“It is tailored to the needs of those individuals as they come here,” Achoba said.
A common area features tables, chairs and a canteen, where residents will receive three meals per day. Achoba told KTW he is excited about a garden planned outdoors behind the gazebo. It should be ready by the end of this month. He said residents will be able to grow food that will be transferred to other shelters in the city.
Thanks to Kamloops This Week for the article and photos.
Great perspective. Thank you. Everyone has their story and we must be cognizant that it will differ from ours and offer compassion and not judgement.
Drugs and JUDGEMENTALISM
This perspective from a person who took narcotics for medical reasons and for the grace of God could have become homeless.
Please pass this on.