Is It Really Treatment

The city of Vancouver is a beautiful city, but it is also a port for drugs. The main drug being sold is heroin. For years now, Vancouver has been trying to treat and fix the heroin problem. They’ve set up a project called Insite, where addicts can go and shoot up heroin with clean syringes and medical supervision. While at the clinic police aren’t allowed to arrest the addicts while using. The city has since added to the project. Addicts are not only given medical supervision and clean instruments, but are also being given free heroin. The city claims that if the addicts are given a clean/safe environment and free heroin, then they won’t have to go out and commit crimes to obtain the drug in the streets.

The National Insitiute on Drug Abuse states that drug addiction treatment is the intent to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use. Vancouver claims that Insite is a treatment program, but the definition of drug addiction treatment clearly states that in order to be treatment it has to help addicts stop using. If you go by definition then the program isn’t drug treatment. The addicts that partake in this program can’t get over their addiction if they are being given heroin to shoot up. Instead Insite is sustaining their addiction.

“Merriam-Webster defines sustain as to provide what is needed for (something or someone) to exist, continue, etc” (Webster). Insite is sustaining their addiction with free/clean instruments, medical supervision/care, no legal punishment and actual drugs. There was a patient that is apart of the program that was asked on video if she would ever stop using. She answered saying that she will continue to use for the rest of her life. She says that the drug has become apart of her every day life. Insite just now makes it easier for her and other patients to continue using.

Also in the video is a man who is also apart of the program. It is stated that he and all the other patients now need heroin to function normally in society. After interviewing the man, the reporter goes on to say that even though he seems to function normally it is still obvious that the man is high on drugs. A definition of a drug is a medicine or other substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or introduced to the body. Someone couldn’t possibly act normal and be a regular contributor to society if they are physiologically impaired.

Vancouver isn’t treating the users addiction. They are just sustaining there addiction. In order to truly be treated the users would have to stop using and seeking heroin. The program is just sustaining the addiction.

Work Cited

“Vancouver Combats Heroin by Giving Its Addicts the Best Smack in the World.” Public Radio International. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015. <http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-02-04/vancouver-combats-heroin-giving-its-addicts-best-smack-world&gt;.

“Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).” What Is Drug Addiction Treatment? N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/what-drug-addiction-treatment&gt;.

Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustain&gt;.