The war against Thunder Bay’s illegal drug trade rages on behind the scenes, with city councillors, police and various community groups meeting to find answers.
Part of it has lead to find answers in Halifax, where At-large councillor Aldo Ruberto tells us doctors out east are prescribing addicts with synthetic drugs through a machine.
“Once you get a prescription from your doctor, and they’ve done an analysis on you and decided your addiction is so bad, they will prescribe a prescription for you to get a [synthetic] supply from a machine, based on your hand print,” points out Ruberto.
He suggests this gives addicts a safer supply instead of committing crime to find their next fix. He also points out discussions continue over more safe injection areas, similar to the Simpson Street facility.
But, in order for the city to make any headway, which Ruberto admits is not happening, more public involvement is needed to change the laws to keep drug pushers in jail, while social agencies try to reach addicts.
“The public has to put pressure on provincial reps and federal reps. The public has to be writing letters, the public has to phone. When it comes to local issues, like the multi-plex, or the waterfront, or the art gallery, people write letters,” adds the city councillor.
He says city staff may report in November with more information to by-laws he has introduced, such as hiring by-law officers to assist police, and anti-loitering by-law. Ruberto adds the federal government can help, it just needs direction, or approval, from the city on how to proceed.
