SALOME, one more solution for drug addicts in Vancouver

I came across an article published in The Province July 8th, about InnerChange Foundation which is an organization that does research on exit strategies for drug addicts. They recently came up with a new solution following the recommendations of the Study to Assess Longer-term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME). Opioid is a chemical that can be used to stabilize drug addicts and is seens as very promising in DTES. The research has the support of John Reynolds a former Conservative MP. This is a good news since the Tories have been well known for the their hardline position and policies against drug addiction, in particular against the successful InSite program. In the article, Mr. Reynolds is quoted as saying: “It is about time that we end the stigma around addiction and start thinking about this as treatable illness instead of a moral failing.” which is aligned with our own belief and summarize the main message of this blog.

The InnerChange Foundation brings a wind of change in the city by its very nature of researching new efficient and realistic solutions (therapies, drugs) that will help drug addicts to quit. This means they have an open mind and have to face unpopular and misunderstood programs in which they give away less damaging and less addictive drugs in the hope to facilitate quitting. We think the foundation is on the right way by looking at the problem for a different perspective while educating students directly at school. The new generation will most likely have a better understanding and hopefully be touched by the misery of the dozen of people living on DTES. Prejudices are already slowly shifting towards a desire from the citizens to help and try new bold strategies that have never been used before.