Kelly's Corner: Safe Space to Shoot Up?

By Kelly Jordan, WCCO Radio Producer

On Wednesday's show, Chad talked about the Mayor of Ithaca (New York) wanting to allow a "safe space" for heroin users to … well basically shoot up. This Mayor, Svante Myrick, wants Ithaca to become the first city in the U.S. to offer heroin users a safe, controlled place to use drugs. Apparently there are similar sites in Europe and Canada.

This "safe space" is needed in every major city in the United States. This idea needs to be fleshed out with medical professionals, former drug addicts, and mental health professionals. Perhaps a phase program that offers support, and medical help. The emphasis will NOT be hey just do drugs here and move on, I would hope it would include an emphasis on getting off drugs, and some sort of treatment options.

Here is the deal, the junkies that we were scared of …are our next-door neighbors. Drug addiction is an issue that we need to address instead of hiding behind lengthy drug sentences in an overpopulated jail. We are seeing the evolution of drug users being poor and colored to middle class and white…now solutions are in the forefront and needed ASAP. I truly believe this is an option that communities need to consider–ahead of the problem.

One of my favorite shows was "Intervention" on A&E that showed people in their most desperate state and the heartbreak that their families would face trying and often times begging them to get help. The drug problem in America is not going to cease to exist. I don't know why we cannot have compassion for those who face the dilemma of trying to stay clean and fighting those demons when they aren't strong enough to say no to drugs. Addiction is something I will not understand. Even though I do not understand it fully, I know it is real, I know it is a disease, and something that needs to be examined for solutions not something we are afraid to discuss intelligently.

For those that don't agree with me, tell me why. Do you suppose we ignore the problem? Force addicts into a treatment? This ultimately is a health issue. A human issue.