The B.C. model doesn’t work
By Letter to the Editor on December 9, 2021.
ditor:
Build It and they will come.
Once again, we see increases of homeless in this city and every time we increase capacities, more come! Have we not learned!
Apparently not!
The best example of harm reduction not working is right next door in Vancouver. Many of us have watched the experiment fail, with increases in fatal overdoses, crime, numbers of addicts increases annually. The more housing, they provide, the more people are attracted. Can we not learn?
Vancouver DTES has pumped billions into housing/social services programs over the last 18 years since they opened the safe injection sites . . . over 260 programs costing $360 million per year and the greater Vancouver DTES is about 19,000 people with 43 per cent not from B.C.
Do the math! Is this what we want? Do you want over 50 per cent of your paycheque going to taxes?
I stated to council in 2016 that if you open the SCS, they will come, and they did! Now, we see Lethbridge being dumped on by other communities and the more capacity we have, the more people will be dumped here!
They will and are coming.
I know most of the groups providing services for the “vulnerable” want to help and their hearts are in the right place, but those services attract more to the streets.
I watched too many homeless die that I meet on the streets, the most recent was Helen, whose remains were found on Blood Tribe land after LPS asked for the public’s help. Helen was one of many that I have met, listened to and tried to get to addiction counselling.
Why are we blindly following the model B.C. has used where there is plenty of data the shows it doesn’t work!
If it worked, then why do we see the increase of fatal overdoses, numbers of addicts/homeless and crime annually? If it worked there should be reductions – one doesn’t need a degree to understand that.
Many years ago I was at an international event, sitting around a large campfire with people from all over, but next to me was a man from B.C., who came to the Prairies in summer, but returns to Vancouver in winter, because it is warmer and has better social services and other supports.
Those services attracted him and that was back in 1981.
I say again: Build it and they will come!
Barry Ewing
Lethbridge
-1
And to reinforce the writer here is a Vancouverite’s observation.
https://behindtheyellowtape.ca/2021/12/07/decay-disorder-and-delusion/
Buckwheat that is a great Blog or report showing just how much of a failure the harm reduction and other programs failed to work in BC. . .All should read it and understand that we are heading on the same path!
Did you see this article?
“‘Grief and frustration’ as B.C. marks a new record death toll in overdose crisis”. I am wondering if any of this will wake up anyone in this city or if they are actually reading any of it . . . some are already brainwashed to harm reduction actually working!
https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2021/12/09/grief-and-frustration-as-bc-marks-a-new-record-death-toll-in-overdose-crisis/
Some will never learn!
We have the same thing happening here. There is a Committee of “Whites Only” called the SSIG. It is composed of churches and Non Profits who are forcing the idea of making a Care Campus in the Downtown that would service the Addicts, nay read Homeless. Any Indigenous Group which was wanting to participate found it was the Non Profit way or the Highway, so they quit attending the SSIG Meetings.
I have submitted a Counter Proposal to City Council that puts the True Homeless Downtown in the same district. But puts the Addiction Crowd outside the City on land that abuts the Blood Reserve.
I have talked to two Elders about the two plans, mine and SSIG. One commented that SSIG was a group who wanted Non-Indigenous once again deciding what to do with Indigenous Youth! Residential Schools Part 2. Another told me he would much rather see Indigenous youth on the Reserve being treated and did not like the idea Non Profits had. I told him I had made formal submission for a redesigned Community Care Campus and gave him a copy of my 20 page submission. When I explained it would be a joint effort on the border of the Reserve, he lit up like a Christmas Tree and told me it was a “Great Compromise”! Both Elders have liked what I have proposed. I am trying to get more people to read my proposal.
I have also found this group of Non Profits and Churches (SSIG) claim to represent a long list of Associations yet, when I called some of them they seemed somewhat confused as to what SSIG means they are representing them? So they are misleading Council with a Nov 18th Letter that suggests they have the support of the “larger community” in proceeding with creating a Downtown Campus between the train tracks and 5th North on Stafford. In fact, in that area “suspiciously” only two businesses support them and it takes no brain power whatsoever what buildings they are attempting to get Lethbridge City to buy to start their new City Destroyer. No other businesses appear to have been consulted or if they were they would not sign up. I have talked to 3 business owners across the street from the Non Profits Dream Land and they were visibly upset that they did not know about it. I know there will be more businesses pissed as I tell them what the Non Profits are clandestinely planning. The intent was to present their plan only so Council had no choice there plan or chaos! I have given Council a Plan B.
Not so strangely Blood want to treat Indigenous Addicts on the Reserve. My proposal has the Land shared in that half the Land would be on the Blood and the other half on Lethbridge Purchased Property. Elders I have talked to seem to think that’s a good compromise.
I have proposed 4 100×200 Steel buildings like you see on Hutterite Colonies would be built next summer on the land. 30 days to cure the foundation 90 days to make them occupiable . One building for Kitchen/Dining and lounge area. One building for Shelter, One building for Assistance, like SCS, counselling etc. Last building would be Utility building housing Snow Blowers, Vehicles etc. Attached to the Shelter building would be an overhang and patio that would allow the Addicted to have a backyard. There would be no effort to rehab anyone. It is a place for the Addicted. It would be there home.
Then Mr Ewing if we build it and “they come” we then construct a 5th building etc etc. Businesses and Homes would not suffer the issues they suffer now and no one would be thrown under the bus. Non Profits who pay no taxes do not get to dictate to this city where no taxpaying people go. We do!
Buses would run to and from blood and too and from Lethbridge. One Stop in Lethbridge, period. In fact I have suggested that Buses be donated to the facility. The only rule to get on the bus at the Facility- you can not be intoxicated. The buses would be outfitted with Bike Racks. The facility would have its own Bicycles that are serialized and identified as AFC “Addiction Facility Campus”. Addicts could sign out a bike, hop the bus, and come to Lethbridge.
At the same time, the Downtown Alpha House/ Soup Kitchen would be turned into support for Homeless ONLY. No addict would be served in either. The Alpha House would be converted to a Dry Shelter for Homeless and Bicycles would be serialized and labelled LHC Lethbridge Homeless Campus. The Homeless could sign out a bike and discover Lethbridge or use it to Job Hunt. Any LHC bike found unattended would be picked up by Police and taken back to the LHC.
Homeless would no longer be harassed, Lethbridge would go back to tending to the “Homeless” and they would be unafraid to use downtown facilities. So families, children etc would not feel threatened by the Addicts. Homeless problem SOLVED! Business Taxpayers unaffected. Residential Taxpayers Unaffected. We take back our city and we have removed the always present threat of more addicts arriving uncontrollably!
Any addict found intoxicated and laying around the city passed out. Would be picked up and loaded onto the Bus and sent back to the Facility. Any Bicycle found unattended would be picked up by Police and dropped off to the Bus Station and loaded onto the Bus returning back to the Facility.
If you want a copy of my submission, go to city hall and ask for a copy of the Community Care Campus Proposal dated 6 December 2021
So far I am getting support from anyone that has read it. I suggest Lethbridge Read it! It will not be long before the SSIG who only had one plan, theirs, is submitted. It will mean Millions of dollars of Taxpayer money spent to procure properties and give them their dream of being embedded in Downtown Lethbridge, like they are in every other city they help in Canada.
It is time we tell Non Profits where they can set up, NOT the other way around!
So, their will be two plans AT LEAST submitted for Council Consideration when the time comes. When that time comes, get everyone out to support my plan you can because I can assure you the Religious Nutbars will be out in Droves promo’ing the destruction of our city!
Turbine-wine you have presented some great points. I am not impressed with some of the progress or ideas of the SSIG and I do know that if you are dealing with indigenous they have their own time and ways in matters, that is many cases slow the process of resolving issues, big or small, but they are an important factor in resolving the problem, which is seeing a generation of their youth taken.
Ottawa is part of the problem! Their has to be a deterrent for people who now feel it is their right to sleep where ever they want, consume alcohol and drugs where ever and use our streets as toilets. The Park and Ride terminal has turned into a second shelter already, a place where we see transit users not even wanting to use what is left of the public washrooms there. Over $20 million spent on a building that is now a slum.
We need firm policing, deterrents for offenders (doesn’t have to be criminal charges), a place to house people who are too high/drunk to sober up and one big thing is that if you overdose, you are taken to a locked facility where you will be kept for 48-72 hours where medical professionals can treat you and counselors can talk to you and get you into effective treatment programs.
The most effective coordinated plans in North America to involve the church community and other volunteers to be not just cost effective, but to add social supports and if taken, spiritual guidance, something we differ on Turbine-wine. The church, just the the indigenous are an important factor in resolving the issues.
One thing I have witnessed is that once the word is out we have more shelter space or facility space, more people get shipped here from other communities, partly because of the inter-communication between provincial shelters and other non-profits.
Less space, less tolerance on loitering/sleeping on the streets, less tolerance of open drug use/drinking and more focus on firm policing and EFFECTIVE treatment programs.
Alberta would not have an EMS crisis or paramedic crisis if they were not responding to all of the overdoses, which are under reported for some reason.
I have watched people overdose, given Naloxone and CPR while waiting for EMS and once EMS arrives, they sometimes allow them to check vitals, but refuse any treatment or being taken to hospitals/detox, they get up and stagger away. And why do we have large ambulances and firetrucks responding to support EMS? We should just be sending a small SUV/van to support EMS with overdoses. But I do believe that if someone believes they are going to end up being sent for a medical watch for 24-72 hours they will be more careful not to overdose. Many already try to avoid Naloxone because they don’t want to lose their high.
Lastly, these are our streets, the taxpayers streets with taxpayers dollars being spent to support the shelters all the other related programs on our streets and we DO have say but many just sit back and say I can’t do anything about it! Focus should not be on increasing the capacity to house the addicts/homeless! We are not helping them but slowly killing them!
Maybe you missed the total point but you will see in my submission that I am not negating any spiritual help, Its part of the medical building that is part of the facility. The land would be big enough that the Indigenous or church groups want another building, I do not see an issue with that. Just as I see no reason not to have a 6th building for a Basketball/indoor floor hockey rink. I know my concept is far less costly then destroying the downtown.
I have also suggested the possibility of donating an Ambulance to the facility and hire an EMS staff that would administer Naloxone and if need be run the person into the Hospital.
Build it and they will come is scoffed at by non-profits because you cannot embed in a community if it knows exactly what will happen. So they con the any Council into believing you are solving a problem for their city only when they know full well that within 12-18 months they will need to expand. Embed first, squeeze later!
Understood! I do agree with much of what you stated, but I am concerned with any expansion that would allow more occupants, except for treatment of course.
Talking to many of the people on the streets I know that many would rather be working and not on the streets, one which had been a chicken wrangler who loaded live chickens in containers to go to processing lost his job when his boss went into other work and the farmer changed the type of livestock. You could see the tell tale signs on his hands from all the claw marks from the chickens. It is a tough job, hard work and night work.
I do agree that there are many that are just there to make money off the addicts and homeless as well. That is why I believe shelters should have local governance/oversight. Council has refused some expansions of certain groups and they have then found ‘backdoors’ to get their way.
I do agree with much of what you say and know we do have common ground. I haven’t had time to view that presentation to Council, but I will.
You should know who I am, but had to change name, here and on Facebook due to harassment and threats because of my strong opinion on the matter. Pick up my submission to City and we can talk.
Thank you! That was a closed session on the 6th of December but I will talk to the City Clerks office. I do understand the name issue and respect that. Personally I have had to back away from my comments for other reasons, but I am tired of seeing all of the deaths continue and in my mind, making the same mistakes BC has made. The news tells it all when then are still screaming ‘new records in fatal overdoses’.
The stats state it all!
turbine-wine,
Perhaps, it wasn’t just the non-profits way or the highway? Perhaps, they were being directed by some other higher power or city staff? Are the various nonprofits and city departments chasing the same available funds together or in competition?
The Herald article by Al Beeber points out the members (as he was informed by city staff,I presume)who are on this SSIG. How many of them are in fact still with the group and actually show up to any meetings? I wouldn’t bet on ever finding that out. There is listed a few businesses in this membership. Are any of them connected in any way to a nonprofit, that may present a conflict of interest? Don’t assume there is any mechanism for the public to know that. Or for that matter, especially for the 4 council members on the Cultural and Social Standing Policy committee. Would it matter if they did know as they would have to be able or willing to do something about it? Two of these council members are very new to the game. Are the other two examples of research hawks? Were they previously elected for that quality or from a popularity contest because they were nice guys? Does it take at least 3 or just 2 councilors on the CSSPC to advance(by vote) a very big,complex and expensive endeavor,that has very,very far reaching consequences for the entire city?
Yes, these councilors recommendations will go before all of council to consider. Watch the city hall meeting about this topic. I believe it is going to be on Dec.14th. Check the city’s website for exact dates and times. There seems to be less and less public notification on city hall matters. Curious? The remaining councilors have to depend (and all of the city residents for that matter) extremely heavily on the understanding by perhaps 2-4 councilors on a vast subject. I’m sure they have received lots of help from city staff, if that is comforting in any way?
I seem to remember from a previous herald article earlier this year, that the SSIG was supposed to report to a Community Wellness type committee. If I remember correctly this committee would be made up of a different mix of community members. I assumed they were to provide more sober second thought to this issue. Then their findings would be presented to a committee of just 4 councilors on the CSSPC.
Which Indigenous group quit attending? I don’t think you can assume that all the non-profits, businesses and neighborhood committees etc. on this SSIG all agreed on everything. Perhaps, one or some of their presumed recommendations were only won by one or two votes. Perhaps, they weren’t even able or offered time and opportunity to debate their own options. Perhaps they were merely fed options to vote on? So, if some members of what you call this “white only” group didn’t get their way,did they quit and give up? Maybe some did for this exact same reason.
However, maybe a number of these members didn’t quit? What qualities would they possess,if they decided not to quit in frustration?
To be continued.
So what does work? Suggestions? Looking to where ever in the world has the least poverty, homelessness, and drug addiction, and why?
First . . . Stop looking around the world! Although many share the drug addiction issues, the societal and demographic issues are different in Lethbridge than in Europe and even in some other cities.
Look at BC for things not to do!
We have many programs that have recently been put in place such as drug courts, more treatment beds, etc. but we need deterrents for the illegal acts that are committed on our streets, not criminal charges, but their needs to be firm deterrents. Right now I can walk up to someone injecting drugs on the street, not hiding it, and they continue without hesitation, as they do if they are lighting a meth bowl. They don’t care! We have allowed them free rein on our streets and it has grown to the point the they know nothing will be done, even if police are called. The police are stuck in the middle because is being pushed by BC to decriminalize and even legalize all drugs and the courts do very little. The police are frustrated and tired and many have worked hard to control drug use over the years, a further slap in their face!
All the issues point to the addiction! The addiction or the cause of the addiction, creates homelessness, poverty, crime, prostitution. Addiction is the common denominator, yet all the harm reduction programs rarely focus on effective treatment. Did legalizing alcohol stop alcoholism? Yet we still are impact by it!
Many of these people do have a home to go to, they just don’t want to obey the basic rules to live in those homes. We need to get them working, or in school so they have jobs. We need treatment facilities for those with mental health issues, some drug induced and if taken away from drugs could function normally.
Many are on the streets because they have nothing to do, no social interaction. The Blood Tribe has a large area, but most of it has been leased out to non-indigenous to farm. Could they not ranch and farm on their lands to get their youth working. Working gives you feeling of purpose, something to look forward to and increases self esteem. Look at the Osoyoos band in Okanagan. Their Chief actually went to the U of L before returning and becoming Chief. What a true success story! Look up Chief Clarence Louie!
There are businesses in town that have dedicated themselves, with patience and investment to employ recovering addicts.
So far, I am sorry to say, I am not impressed by SSIG, but it is a start.
We need a community group all working towards the same goal, collaboratively that includes the indigenous, all levels of government, police, as well as the AB Justice and the church community! Volunteers are a big part in keeping costs down and programs available.
We are blowing money on programs that are going no where! We have created the perfect atmosphere on the street for the addict to continue in their addictive ways: Soup Kitchen feeds them 2-3 meals per day, often better meals than many seniors, disabled and vets . . . several organizations wandering the streets downtown daily with clothing, food, fluids and even passing out drug paraphernalia. Addicts fed, clothed, sheltered so all their AISH/AB social services money or treaty money can go for drugs.
Many of the programs are ineffective, and even the addicts complain about them. These people need something to do in their lives . . . a purpose and some need to be treated for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) that cause them to want to disappear into a drug induced fog! We lack these specialized trauma trained addiction counsellors.
But the issues of homeless, crime, loss of life all point to the cause of the addiction. We will never be rid of it completely, but we can dramatically reduce it!
I don’t have all the answers . . . I do know what doesn’t work and some of the areas where that will work. Effective treatment, post treatment oversight and low tolerance of what we allow on our streets is part of the answer!
Totally agree and here is further support for your theories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=essjVcdPuFk
Our problem is non-profits and churches, they think they know it all and Cities know nothing so non-profits run the city they embed in.
The only thing and I mean the only thing that works is to allow an addict to hit rock bottom. The problem is the Do Gooder society of the world, stops the addict from hitting the bottom. It prolongs long term pain and only saves the soul of the do gooder. An addict that is laying in his own feces, has not eaten a square meal in 4-5 days and is totally exhausted who says he wants to rehab, is a star candidate for success. Because he/she will remember that day. But we have the nutbars running around picking he/she up taking them in for a shower, giving them new clothes, feeding them and giving them a place to sleep, then the addict says, hey this is great chit ! I feel great, scuse me gotta go shoot up! No Rock bottom to be seen!
Statistically, I would say that the 60’s DO NOTHING, created more Rehab’d addicts then this costly program of “save him/her before he/she hits rock bottom”.
So because they are not allowed to hit “their rock bottom” the Do Gooders have now decided that living as a full time forever addict is really not that bad. You then have those that profit from supporting the $100,000 per rehab cycle per client coming up with new complicated ways to keep him/her in the system longer and longer so it will appear their success rate is better. Its not, it is terrible but you will never find any data on it because hiding the data is far more profitable then admitting you are a failure and wasting taxpayer money.
So what you get is guilt trips… we’re savin lives here”- yur a killer if you do not support us. The best yet, total denial by the non-profits and their volunteers. Its todays society and welcome to it!
A lot of great ideas and points made by all here so far and some good references to support this. I do know that we have a major issue with the operation of the Alpha House Shelter after personally listening to people that refuse to stay there. It almost sounds like the wild wild west, no management! Do they not have a ‘duty of care’ to protect the clients? I have stated in other comments all the issues there and won’t expand for now, but in my mind it is the SCS on steroids, where gangs rule! I make that statement after talking to those on the street, asking why they are not staying there!
I wonder if anyone in government ever reads these comments or are they ignored, like letters to them are!
It is the way we package assistance. ie Everyone is Homeless and is the subject of my submission to the City. The only people that benefit from using the term Homeless are the non profits. It becomes a big number which tends to scare politicians who then become subservient to the non profit solution to “the cities major major problem” but don’t worry we can solve it.
If you drop the term Homeless and only apply it to the “Truly homeless and call the rest Addiction/Mental Defficienies group. You soon find you are dealing with two distinct things. Homeless people are 65 in Lethbridge. Suddenly the issue is no longer as big as the non profits portray. So you take Alpha house and present Soup Kitchen and you create a Homeless Dry Shelter that no Addict/Mental Defficiency group can access.
You then create an environment that satisfies the Addict Group. 170-190 people. My first complaint is we should never let non profits who pay no taxes tell us, the taxpayer, where they intend on servicing those who do not pay taxes. Because if you allow it, you become subservient to the NON Taxpayers.
So you come up with a plan that satisfies the “Taxpayers”. One that does not destroy the society they participate in, One that preserves the social fabric of that society and One that caters to that society.
To do that, you have to address Addiction. Because we share a bad addiction problem with Blood we need to form a true partnership giving access to both partners to the Addiction facility. So you put it on the border with Blood. You get enough acreage that you can put 4-5-6 100×200 steel buildings up. Hutterites take about 120 days to get a building ready for use. 30 days to let the concrete cure, 90 days to spray foam, and drywall or wood wall coverings. So if I can get my plan through the idea would be to start next spring and create this Facility. There would be no cost to live there. Which means Super Lodge would clear out because no one that is addicted wants to spend money on rent.
Now its an Addiction Facility not rehab. So, when a person chooses to rehab then the over 1000 beds UCP is putting in Stand Off will give an Indigenous person immediate access to the system. The 150 in Lethbridge area the same for non-indigenous.
So because you cannot KILL the 4 pillars because too many people making tooooooo much money. You have to live within its bounds for now.
So I have provided shelter, food and lodgings for both Homeless and Addicted and I have not adversely affected one business or one homeowner. So everyone should get on board or we will have to listen to the Self Righteous demand we sacrifice our city ! My submission is not caste in stone, it can be massaged to work better if there are more interested in contributing. If you leave it up to the SSIG, we are toast.
The principle is simple. They get on a bus if they want to come to Lethbridge, if they are found passed out, they are picked up loaded back on the bus and taken to their home which is the Facility. It is no different if you were passed out downtown and the cops checked your wallet found you lived on west side and drove you home. Home is Home, there is no discrimination or racism or impeding ones rights, but the Nutbars will insist its not what God wants. Which I find amusing, I talked to her and she thought my idea was GREAT! lol
Now what Barry is saying is true. Build it and they will come so anyone including me that thinks after 24 months of either my plan or SSIG will mean only 190 will be at the facility is smoking dope themselves. My plan allows for another 100×200 building. SSIG well they want the city to believe they are solving the cities problem only, which is naive’. They are solving Southern Alberta.s problem. They want Southern Alberta’s problem downtown Lethbridge! It seems this city wants to be first to cut their own throats. So I want to make sure their is a bowl to catch the blood and a place to put the bodies that does not affect TAXPAYERS !
I am sure another non profit will ensure our taxes go up because they will have another MAJOR unsolvable disaster that only they can solve, soon!
Again, some good points, but the more capacity you build, the more people will come. The problem is not just downtown . . . it has spread all over the city! East, West, North, and South!
There are some non-profits doing great work in this city! There are churches doing great work in this city!
No more shelters, no more hotels! Pursuitdiver hit the nail directly on the head! We need oversight over any shelters, we need to be able to say that we will not allow mismanagement of these facilities which we saw in the SCS. I am going to rest on the issues here. I have said enough!
Change is needed and I truly feel the new Council and Police Chief want the same things I we want. It is time for change and it is coming!
All the comments are well and good, however, it’s all futile unless we address where the addicts are coming from, and why.
Agreed . . . we know where they are coming from! Why? Many reasons: pass them on to someone else to deal with, like cattle. Rebellious youth that are exploring and get caught up in addiction. Gangs and organized crime that are just in it for the money and care a less for the people. Abused people that are just trying to kill the mental pains of abuse. There are many reasons!
Yes, we know where they are coming from, and the main reason is, as you said, “Abused people that are just trying to kill the mental pains of abuse“.
It’s that abuse being passed on from one generation to another that needs to be addressed.
Yes, but not the only factor . . . there is one that starts right in the home that needs to be dealt with.
How do people that escape tyranny, wars, torture come to Canada with only the clothes on their backs and become law abiding citizens, working hard at 2-3 jobs, paying back the costs to the federal government for transporting them to Canada, have a house and a vehicle within years and appreciate what they have?
In many cases these people have to overcome language barriers as well and contrary to misinformation, they are not supported by government and given those homes, those vehicles. They worked for them taking jobs many would not take, and is some cases . . . some were doctors, engineers and other professionals whose credentials are not recognized in Canada.
There is more to the story . . . but for now, to save lives and stop the carnage on our streets, we need to start where I suggested. An end needs to be put to the victim stance and we need to get them to learn how to be ‘victors’. No matter if you are talking religious beliefs or secular, life is what you make it and even though there have been racist issues, we get out of life what we put in and if we constantly blame others for our plight, even though it is warranted in some cases and never move on, we are ‘victims’. I have friends of many nationalities including First Nations and I know that many mistakes were made in the past, but nobody is helped by staying in the past! I know they would all be better and enjoy life better if they would only move on and look at standing in unity to have a better life, without strife, conflict. If both sides that signed the treaties 150 years ago knew how what the negative impacts would be for both sides, neither would have agreed. It was a bad ‘contract’ for all!
But that was just that, 150 years ago! It is horrific what happened in the Residential Schools and two of my distant relations, sons of Nicholas Sheran may have been victims themselves. We are facing major issues in the world today, right now, that needs to see unity, but we are fracturing society and this country is also fracturing.
We need to fix this and fix it now, because we have bigger problems coming that will require us standing united as a nation!
I will stand down now! Once in a while I have to vent and say what I mean. We need to work together to end this!
Merry Christmas!
You said, “Yes, but not the only factor . . . there is one that starts right in the home that needs to be dealt with”.
That’s exactly what I’m referring to.
I used to work on the Blood reserve, and like many others can attest to, a lot of those kids are being taught hatred, shame, anger, and racism. It’s that abuse (psychological pain) that leads to addiction.
Agreed, but to be clear, that isn’t all homes . . . there are many that are brought up respectful and without abuse.
Gangs thrive on these communities and police face a wall when trying to investigate any crime, including the missing or abused. There are many stories of multiple sexual abuses by close relatives and in many cases those relatives were addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Many of the issues begin right in their own homes and in the long term, if they ever want to have a good life and find peace, that is where it needs to start!
Remember the old saying ” a strong country begins in the home ” . . . trying to explain that to them is impossible, even though we just want to see them succeed. I spoke with small group last week, when I was approaching I noticed a young man, maybe 15 or 16 smoking something in meth bowl, with 3 woman with him, 1 about 40 and 2 others early 20’s and as I got closer he said, don’t be sneaking up on my Auntie. They are all were visibly high on meth! You can tell by their body movements and stance. Sad!!!
This is why I am so tired of all of this! Kids killing themselves slowly, not just on opioids but meth, which rapidly destroys every part of the body, including the brain. I just can’t stand by and watch it without trying to bring change! It is utterly shameful!!
A few years ago while over at a north side meeting outside, regarding drugs in the community, I was informed of a drug house nearby and one child of 12 years old found nearby so high that he could hardly talk. A 12 year old . . . can you imagine how vulnerable they are to sexual abuse in that state? This is not a one time story in this city. There are many pre-teens that are getting caught up in this right in this city!