How do we immediately fix our mental health and addictions crisis?

Immediately addressing the crisis of street homelessness, crime, addiction and other forms of mental illness is doable and has been shown to be doable in B.C. and in other places.
But unfortunately, the programs that successfully achieve those changes are starved for resources in favor of other things.
The effective resources that we have include the drug treatment courts, community courts and voluntary interventions that all involve the same things, including housing opportunities that separate people from drug trafficking and other forms of risk.
They separate people from life on the street and the day to day grind of surviving. Instead, they provide opportunities for employment or schooling and the support needed to be successful. Large scale research in BC shows that resuming employment, relocating out of neighborhoods of strife and overcoming addiction are top priorities of people currently living on BC’s streets.
The published results of these interventions include dramatic reductions in crime and medical emergencies, improvements in well-being and hopefulness for the future, and reconnecting with kids.
They also cost the same as the amount of money spent supporting people while they are homeless.
The main limiter in our success in B.C. is leadership.
People in the mental health area have been calling for these changes for decades.
These are not novel forms of intervention, but our current systems present so much inertia that leadership has not been powerful enough to say no and do what's right.
#hope #addiction #opiodcrisis #homeless #bc #bcgovernment #bcndp #vancouver #britishcolumbia #vapoli #bcpoli #surrey #burnaby #vancouverisland #victoria #dtes #granville #recovery #mentalillness #prevention #community #housing #harmreduction #science

[@Paul-th9vr]

Thank you for your excellent advice about addictions and how to treat those affected by the drugs. Thank you again doctor.

[@kp6282]

We need people like you in politics

[@user-yo8iq6yf7m]

Keep up the hard work Dr. Somers!!!!

[@heidimorris4609]

What do I do for an adult daughter who is suffering from mental health and addiction but will not admit what she is doing? I'm struggling as a mother who can't help in any way 😢 Right now, she is at the Jubilee psychological ward. But that won't last.