But coordination is a must at all levels. Youth, and other groups with specific needs, have to be engaged and educated, and options offered to offset entry into addiction. Law enforcement should be targetted towards those who break laws and the drug profiteers, not the street addict who is only guilty of drug possession. I am not talking about just putting more resources into the Downtown Eastside, although more are needed. All regions in the province need to be assisted in developing the capacities to deal effectively with the dynamics of addiction.
Treatment is but a portion of the cost of incarceration.
It will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for every HIV positive conversion that takes place within the addict community. In the Downtown Eastside, people die about 10 years earlier than the norm. They are sicker, and they are more likely victims of violent crimes. An aboriginal person has an even shorter life expectancy. The homeless are more at risk to contract a serious illness or disease.