Why some kids addicted to drugs can’t be forced into care - The Fifth Estate

Frustrated parents say they should be able to force their opioid-addicted kids into care. But in B.C., the province with the highest rate of opioid deaths, the laws say kids can insist doctors not tell their parents they’re hooked. They also can’t be forced into treatment, no matter their age. The Fifth Estate examines a law that was intended for another purpose and has left some parents with few options but to watch their child die.
To read more: www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/f...
#OpioidCrisis #BritishColumbia #CBCFifthEstate
producer/director
VIRGINIA SMART
written by
MARK KELLEY
associate producer
LISA ELLENWOOD
additional research
MATTHEW PIERCE
editing
LIZ ROSCH
principal cinematography
ANDY HINCENBERG
additional cinematography
CURTIS ALLEN/DISTILL MEDIA
JOE FIORINO
VIRGINIA SMART
sound recording
MATT TURNER
drone operator
TYLER CAVE PRODUCTIONS
archival material
KZbin
COAST MENTAL HEALTH
FACEBOOK
TIKTOK
graphic designers
TIM KINDRACHUK
PETER KOVALIK
graphic director
JEFF GOLDHAR
visual research
LESLIE MORRISON
media management
MATT GUERIN
post audio
RON SEARLES
colourist
SCOTT McINTYRE
rollout producer
ROXANNA WOLOSHYN
social media producer
AVNEET DHILLON
theme music
STEVE D'ANGELO
project manager
VICTOR KERR
associate director
NANCI KING
packaging editor
NANCY DIMENNA
resource coordinators
CHAHAT DESAI
JORDAN ABRAHAM
coordinating associate director
RHONDA KIRKPATRICK
senior producers
ALLYA DAVIDSON
EMMANUEL MARCHAND
executive producer
DIANA SWAIN
original broadcast
MARCH 3, 2022
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About The Fifth Estate: For four decades The Fifth Estate has been Canada's premier investigative documentary program. Hosts Bob McKeown, Gillian Findlay and Mark Kelley continue a tradition of provocative and fearless journalism. The Fifth Estate brings in-depth investigations that matter to Canadians - delivering a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.

[@cbcfifth]

If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to get help: Wellness Together Canada www.wellnesstogether.ca For adults: 1-866-585-0445 (phone counselling available 24/7) For youth: 1-888-668-6810 (phone counselling available 24/7) Kids Help Phone: [phone] (phone), live chat counselling on www.kidshelpphone.ca Substance use treatment centres for First Nations and Inuit communities: www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576090254932/1576090371511 Resources from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: www.ccsa.ca/opioid-resources Handbook by parents for parenting a young person with a substance use disorder: foundrybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/parentHandbook_6x9_screen_sept7.pdf For parents and kids in B.C.: Foundry BC app: foundrybc.ca/virtual/ Alcohol & Drug Information & Referral Service (B.C.) www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/crisis-and-information-lines

[@kayehoulihan2728]

It's the same in Australia. I've been trying to get help for my daughter since she was 14 she's now 22 and a total train wreck. It's torn our family apart. In and out of jail disappearing for weeks on end mental health self harming risk taking trauma from predators. You cannot make them do anything to help themselves the law needs to be changed.

[@valerieterblanche4636]

Thats just wrong

[@monabrodalen8815]

@@kayehoulihan2728 Sad to hear that.. Hope she will be willing and able to get help in some way -and support for you to..

[@renekuipers4563]

Usa do everything wrong...

[@josephineflores2348]

@@monabrodalen8815 As for me I will keep thee young lost souls in my prayers and I’m sure God answers

[@lynnen264]

I lost my son to the streets of Victoria and he died alone too. At some point we are powerless to help them. My son was offered help by cops, social workers and even Al Tysick of Our Place. If the child will not take it how do we help? Nobody, least of all kids should die alone. Derrick was my only child and all of my heart. I live broken without him

[@toxicredux]

my heart goes out to you, i hope you are doing well 💓

[@lynnen264]

@@toxicredux Thank you so much

[@activestruggle4170]

Im sorry :( I lost my mom to addiction and struggled myself many years becoming the one things I never wanted to be! An addict.. I finally got help. Have you ever considered seeing a good medium? I'm a very skeptical person but I have had some amazing experiences. They are definitely on the other side and with us all the time. Much love

[@SarahKDB]

I am so so sorry. I hope you have a good support system and a nice dog or cat to cuddle and talk with.

[@elbt101]

Sorry for your loss.

[@gabe-po9yi]

It’s hard enough to convince adults to go into treatment, much less convince a kid. They don’t really see it as a problem, don’t fully grasp the potential consequences, don’t want to be away from their friends, don’t want to be confined. This is one of the craziest, most irresponsible things I’ve ever heard a government do.

[@cecilbdemento7736]

Governments self prescribed job is to tell you how to pay assessed fees for laws they've invented while you were busy trying to pay your mortgage and not looking.

[@ivonned32]

Well said!

[@devingeary455]

Sadly as teens and young adults we all had an invincibility complex and think it will never happen to me. Make some excuse like well that person that died was being stupid or they got some bad drugs or whatever to convince themselves that they are wise enough to know what is best for them

[@gabe-po9yi]

@@devingeary455 Exactly, and that’s why parents should have say-so over treatment. Kids don’t know what’s best for themselves.

[@lilaeckitties7524]

You are falling to grasp that an addict won't get clean until they are ready. As soon as they get out it will be back to the drugs and much more likely to die of an overdose.

[@Machead92]

As an ex junkie who went to rehab at 15 for heroin, was homeless on drugs for multiple years in my adult life, this all hits close to home. I been sober for years now and want to be able to help kids on drugs find the strength to get clean.

[@albertclark1606]

Yes it is hard to get your life in control and stop using DRUGS. BUT IF YOU KNOW BETTER YOU DO BETTER. YOU LOVE YOUR SELF AND LIFE.

[@llamalady8700]

​@@albertclark1606 Phhfftt! Stupidest "advice" I've ever heard.

[@donkeyballs3307]

So go back to school & get a degree in addiction medicine & then get a job helping teens ,its all just talk ,until u actually do something about it

[@keeper6458]

​@@donkeyballs3307Agreed

[@dt8460]

@@donkeyballs3307you don’t need a degree when you lived it

[@April.Showers.]

I’m in America… I’m indigenous… to see the tiny homes and the outreach warms my heart. Our reservations are drug and alcohol filled. We are losing not just our culture here but most importantly our ppl. My heart goes out to you. #indigenous #saveourpeople 💙✊🏽💙

[@rihannahaiti5570]

It horrible how that it. I always feel bad at how your people suffer, y'all deserve to be so free and happy

[@2011sliverdude]

I’m in America too and there are still many indigenous peoples. Aztecs population are still booming

[@tieiatalks]

Liv was so beautiful. Looks like her mom. I feel so bad for her mom. To lose your only child must be the worst pain in the world.

[@briannagouk4910]

@@BezmenovWasRight this is my sister. Her mom was always there and was a great mother to liv. Olivia met mika and some other kids who were into drugs and some predatory men who hooked her onto stuff. As a teenager on drugs the street was better than home. Nothing sarah or our family did could have changed her. The system failed her and so many other on so many levels.

[@briannagouk4910]

@@BezmenovWasRight what exactly do you think she could have done that she didnt already do? Youre making assumptions from some tiny pieces of info in here. Her mom would call police, go out looking for her, they sent her to our dads in Ontario hoping to get a fresh start but that didnt work out either. But with these laws in place it is ILLEGAL for sarah to take her home and get her the help she needed. Liv had a healthy home and was always welcomed with no judgment. Sadly nothing can change what happened but it’s time to make a difference for the rest of our youth and addicted.

[@janiebaxter3407]

There for the grace of God go yours and everyone else's children.

[@Freya1412]

@@briannagouk4910 I'm so sorry for your loss. You're a very strong and considerate person, thinking of what can be done to help others like your sister. God bless you and your family.

[@thersalee5782]

It is I lost mine to crib death. Any loss of a child is horrible! We tried 5 yrs with no luck. I only had 2 1/2 months with him. :(

[@denisedenise3602]

I'm flabbergasted. It is strange how parents can't put their MINOR kids through treatment. It's non sense!

[@brandonjennen3673]

What else should they do

[@fredajordan5704]

@@brandonjennen3673 Exactly.

[@lilaeckitties7524]

Because they know it's pointless. If an addict doesn't want to get help, it will never work.

[@valerieterblanche4636]

Y are they not taking drugs off the street

[@lilaeckitties7524]

@@valerieterblanche4636 that's an impossible task. There will always be drugs available on the street. Take one dealer down 10 more pop up.

[@mommyof3_908]

This was tough to watch. I started using heroin very young at 16yrs old. At the time, my father was able to put me into a detox. I'm pretty sure I did consent. But relapsed. My dad had me arrested a few weeks after I turned 18. Did almost a year in jail and then a long term program. Still came home and relapsed. Went to about 12 different detoxes. I slept on an abandoned railroad track, I sold my body, I shared needles. People thought I was going to die. In fact, I did overdose. Twice. I'm now going to be 37 next month. 14yrs clean, I have 3 beautiful kids, a career, and a LIFE. RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. ❤ before you know it, 10yrs will get behind you and you'll never know where the time went. Stop while you can.

[@Njb246]

Girl I am so proud of you congratulations for doing something that most die attempting to do :) you didn’t give up and that is what is so important!You are an inspiration to many 💜

[@mommyof3_908]

@@Njb246 aww that's really sweet of you, thank you. ❤ God is good. 😀

[@Njb246]

@@mommyof3_908 You are very welcome 🙏 Yes indeed God is good

[@Njb246]

@@hollyclark690 Congratulations to your son I am 9 years clean it is possible 💪💜💕

[@mommyof3_908]

@@hollyclark690 aww thank you! Congrats to your son also! 💜

[@TheSassygrasshopper]

4 years sober off opiates, started when I was 14. I pray for all these youths.

[@thersalee5782]

I got lucky and got off of opiates myself. I tell ppl it's a God thing even tho I didn't go to church. God stayed beside me. lots of praying and talking to Jesus helped me. Thank you God! 🙏

[@thersalee5782]

Congrats to headPopbody Drop.

[@skottsimmonds8912]

I’m 7 months in never thought I would be this happy with out opiates

[@thersalee5782]

@@skottsimmonds8912 congrats Skott.

[@TheSassygrasshopper]

@@thersalee5782 Same I went to church as a kid in a catholic home and kinda grew to resent it... But now that I have come back to faith on my own. Always happy to hear another success story.

[@TheMightyBlackPearl]

If I am held responsible and accountable for anything that my child does, including breaking the law (which we both would pay for), then I should be able to choose treatment for my child. They are not in the state of mind, while using, to make any choice like that. Not to mention, they are children and teens. The human brain is not fully mature until your mid to late twenties. Add drugs into that..could you reason with any person on drugs..let alone a child on drugs? Do these kids not matter? Do these parents not matter? These are our children. Stay out of our lane when it comes to treatment and healthcare for our children.

[@karynpate800]

Absolutely 💯

[@Rhonda858]

Amen!

[@tjmarx]

This is what leadership based on emotion provides. Unfortunately it seems that in their rush to try to make everyone feel as though they have an equal voice, they forgot there are good reasons why some voices matter more than others.

[@DanielleD117]

Very well said and valid points. I agree.

[@crystaldenee765]

@@tjmarx exactly

[@meadowlane637]

I was in the same position as Olivia's mom. I was told the same things by the police. In Ontario, 12 year old children can decide if they want counseling or not. Even when drug addiction and suicidal behaviour is obvious, the ER doctor said, well Mom, he says he's fine and doesn't want to be here. Neither a 12 year old nor an 18 year old can make those decisions when they're addicted to drugs or suicidal. The system needs to be fixed.

[@flowerfreedom7168]

Not even an adult can make these decisions. They dont care because they are involved in thr drug trade themselves.

[@flowergirlabc123]

Is that what has happened? In Ontario?? Wow! Things have changed for the worse. These kids cannot be making these decisions as their brain isn't fully developed! Yet, the parents are still financially responsible for them etc.? What kind of sorcery is that? Parents should have FULL control over their kids until at least 21. Aaaaaand alot of those kids are still immature enough. What a shame. I'm so shocked and disappointed!! We have to almost be with our kids 24/7. So glad all my 'kids' are grown up and never had any issues with them at all. My heart breaks reading /seeing this. I'm just trying to educate myself because it seems unbelievable!! Gov't must get these kids into locked wards to detox them and retrain/educate them for a good year just like many of the psych patients we looked after in the 90s etc. Its all went to he*$ in a handbaaket since the gov't took all these hospitals away. All these beautiful souls who were cared for and loved....gone..... and the families left behind. 💔😥😢 We must be firm and put in prison anyone who sells drugs, period. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@cocoaorange1]

That is crazy!

[@aileenguzman8273]

This really broke me to pieces I started using at 14 years old all the way to 18 years of age an luckily I'm from Lawrence Mass and my parents never stop fighting for me everyday weeks my dad would go to the police station and courthouse to save me from the streets and the drugs .Today I can say thank you my Lord for your mercy and for my amazing parents

[@Aw-ns1qx]

Lawrence Ma is one of the places that I sought treatment. Years ago in NH the opiod epidemic shut down treatment centers. There was no getting in. I was functioning college graduate with a good job. I told my mom finally, she found me help after days of calling around. Ty mom. & Ty Ma.

[@glitterfartsss]

My heart goes out to everyone watching this video and have lost a child to drugs. I can not express the amount of sadness and sorrow I feel for your loss. I am sending all my love your way 💜

[@jenem1117]

So Britney Spears parents can do what they did to her at age 20 something and control her for 13 years but parents of drug addicted minors can't do anything? That's absolutely ridiculous

[@dawnatkinson7704]

Money, money, money...

[@queenb2421]

That's what you get with dictator Trudeau at the helm.

[@jenem1117]

@@fluffybunny1200 I understand that. I'm just saying it's a shame.

[@ChicoTunda]

@@queenb2421 you realize this would be more authoritarian right? This is a situation where people have more freedom in Canada because of these laws, and you say that somehow this is an example of Trudeau being a dictator. These laws exist to defend children from parents who may have good intentions, but in reality have terrible actions.

[@jennbrandon8182]

well Jennifer its a different country

[@stephanieann8115]

IMO what most people tend to forget, is that children (and adults) start doing drugs to mask the pain from something else. Sexual, physical, or mental abuse is the culprit in 90% of these cases. You have to go WAY back and get to the root of the problem before you can start with any kind of rehabilitation. These are tortured souls looking for a getaway. They are NOT trying to hurt anyone, especially their families. It’s the drugs that make them do things they would never normally do. If all you do is judge them and turn them away they will die. If you genuinely love them, let them know that. Tell them you won’t help them use, but you WILL help them recover. It’s a lot of work for you too, but it’s worth it to save a life. Please remember that relapse is a part of recovery-but going back to using is not. I pray this helps even 1 person🙏🏼💙 if you need help I am here 24/7

[@sweetlandlife8249]

Thank you for your very well written diagnosis of some of the root causes for children and youth in life threatening crisis.

[@thersalee5782]

Thank you for caring!

[@kimberlybungard4273]

I agree 100%! This is so well said.

[@sequoiamackenzie9706]

Thank you for putting my scrambled thoughts and broken heart into words. It needs to be said that the addicts are not the villains here.

[@alexandraa5424]

Very well said ❤️

[@N.Sardone]

This is gut wrenching. I’m in recovery just passed 8 years. As I was growing up I watched my Mum and stepdad fall into active addiction - and everything that goes with that. Not once did anyone in my family realize that the medicine that I was having to take to keep me from coughing constantly (literally that was all I did day, night, in school, my life was cough after cough - I had to leave the classroom to allow other kids to hear the lesson. I would pass out every few days due to sheer exhaustion from not sleeping while coughing) would have me addicted too. Thankfully After roughly 14 years of active addiction I was able to get the help I needed. I had to move to a different state but I’m alive. When the young man said that when he craved he drove …… I thought back to my days. When I was dope sick I couldn’t sleep, I had crazy painful muscle spasms in my neck and arms, I would cough, Anything touching me was excruciatingly painful (I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the drs found that I had issues with my SI joints and my hip flexor muscles) it was awful. The only thing I could do to keep from thinking about k!||!n& myself was to drive. It was passive enough not to cause any EXTRA pain and it took just enough concentration to keep me from thinking about the fact that I was sick. I hope these kids can get help. I hope the gov't figures out that they should stay out of family life and let the parents do what parents are wanting to do. 💔

[@psychegoddessoflight9358]

I hope you're feeling a lot better in many ways now, and found something effective to treat your chronic cough. Oof, you were dealt a rough hand, lovey. Sounds like it strengthened you in the long run. Wishing you health & happiness.

[@N.Sardone]

@@psychegoddessoflight9358 I am much better. Still deal with all kinds of health issues but I’m able to work and provide for my kids. So all in all I’d say I’m ok!

[@jewel8425]

My story is like Elliot's. Sports injury led to heroin addiction. I only got clean after I ended up getting a bacterial infection. I went into complete organ failure, and needing open heart surgery & a brain angioplasty. I had waited way too long to go to the hospital, and I was so close to death I could feel it. I live near one of the best hospitals in the world, and only bc of them am I alive today. I had gone thru being sick, being homeless, being in prison, and none of it kept me clean. That has.

[@ThePeacePlant]

It's the doctors fault too. It's a whole world wind out here, because people really don't know what the real problem is so they can't solve it. But it's hard to get pain pills now if you need them, I understand you can get an addiction after an injury, but also can pick up an addiction and turn to the streets because it's almost impossible to get opiates from an actual doctor, a script! I now have to turn to the streets when I am in any pain or mental health, they won't give me anything that you can possibly get high on and the bad part is, is that's the best working stuff for problems. But I always made myself not get addicted to any drugs that leave you physically dependent, I'll get hard drugs doo them for a bit and quit before I get dependent and a few weeks later I hope back on them. The only thing I would ever let myself get addicted to is Marijuana any time I ever felt like I wanted to self medicate to the point of addiction, I would just pick up Marijuana and smoke my life away!!

[@ThePeacePlant]

Everybody's lost. You got to solve underlying issues. A big thing that can help, is learn to love yourself, create your own worth, don't let other people and society tell you what you are worth, you don't need to be a model to be considered beautiful, you don't need to follow trends literally and metaphorically speaking to have value in this life. Just don't follow the crowd and trends literally and metaphorically speaking, unless you really can't cope and don't feel worth it or valuable unless someone tells you that you are! Stay real, stay true and stay genuine! It makes life really easy, but you will have to get used to not having a big crowd of friends, most people can't live this way, people are scared to be real and scared to not follow the crowd. Most people will fall over and die if they had no one there to tell them they are a valuable human being, that's why people follow the crowd and society!

[@aliciarene7306]

What was your route of administration? What exactly was the cause? Don't wanna make same mistake

[@genimanyazewal4933]

God be with you, even if the doctors survived your life it's the will of almighty God that kept you alive.

[@cinnamoslut]

@@aliciarene7306 bacterial infections as a consequence of substance use are always from injecting drugs (whether IV or IM). Stay away from needles and your risk of serious complications from drug use goes down significantly. If you must use needles, there are some steps you can take to minimize the risk of bacterial infection. Always use a fresh clean needle. Use sterile water to dissolve (cook) your drugs. Use clean cotton as well. Make sure your body is clean, recently showered or bathed using soap and water etc. Before you insert the needle, clean the area of skin with an alcohol pad. Though I've never seen a drug user do this, an additional safety step would be to put a bandage over the injection site when you're finished, like you'd get from a healthcare provider after getting your blood drawn, getting a shot, etc. That information is just from my memory. I think it's pretty thorough, but, definitely search online for harm reduction guides on safe injection practices. If you plan on using a different route of administration, search for harm reduction guides on how to do that safely as well. There are guides available for pretty much every drug and every route of administration, with accurate information for best practices given current knowledge. Injecting drugs is seriously dangerous. That's not to say there aren't risks from other routes of administration. But no one gets endocarditis from smoking heroin as far as I know. Sadly, the average drug user probably isn't aware of the risks. Not until it happens to them or someone close to them. And sometimes even knowing the risks isn't enough to be able to quit intravenous use and step down to a less risky route of administration. My best friend was able to stop injecting and go back to smoking heroin. People will say 'that's not possible, no addict can do that' but that's not true. It takes motivation and a strong desire to change. Also having the financial means to be able to afford more drugs, since you'll have to use more generally when not injecting. Never share straws or anything else used to snort or smoke drugs. While likely less risky than sharing needles, there is still risk of contracting diseases as a consequence of sharing straws and other drug paraphernalia used to snort or smoke. Hepatitis C can survive outside the body (in dried blood, etc.) for several weeks. A tiny bleed in the nostril that no one notices could result in blood on a straw used to snort drugs. If that person has Hep C and shares the straw with other people, those people are at risk of contracting Hep C. Anyway, I hope this helps. Your comment is from one year ago. Hope you're doing well and staying safe.

[@sweetlandlife8249]

My question is? What are the root causes of youth having so much anxiety that they will risk their lives trying to cope. Should not our first effort be to identify these root causes and remove them, at least as much a possible?

[@rolofox1046]

Mark Zuckerberg created social media… Reason why women today are going backwards in time etc

[@penskepc2374]

You don't instantly stick a needle in your arm just like a race car driver doesn't instantly race at the Indy 500, good or bad it's a progression.

[@sweetlandlife8249]

More directly, what is the root cause for someone to ever want to go so fast; to create a high(an adrenaline rush, drug or speed induced) that it can end in death? Interesting that there is a drug called speed. What is the root cause for us starting down this path in the first place, and what remedies can be offered to help especially children and youth process pent up feelings of: negative emotion, energy, pain, loneliness, rejection, anxiety, shame, idleness, self hatred, etc. That is my question. Children are dying every minute!!! The youth in this video were gifted and beautiful! Something is terribly wrong.

[@ChicoTunda]

The first step should be insuring people have access to safe drugs, since most deaths are caused by unknown extras that the drugs are laced with like fentanyl. If people are gonna use they may as well not put themselves in danger of dying, but than finding the root problem like you suggest would be the next step.

[@rolofox1046]

@@Neverendingstory78 there being affected the most… men can make it in the world being single women find it harder

[@tieiatalks]

Omg. Listening to Elliotts parents, as a parent myself, breaks my heart! How can the government stand in between him and his parents? If a kid is a minor, the parents are responsible. I’d feel as if the government contributed to the death of my child. This really needs to change.

[@TheMightyBlackPearl]

I feel the same. They helped kill their son. That's just what it is. Telling a parent they can't seek treatment for their child or they will be reported for child abuse? Are you kidding me?! All over getting HEALTHCARE. Life saving treatment. Unreal.

[@zumurudlilit]

@@TheMightyBlackPearl I doesn't work this way. I see you know nothing about mental problems. A human MUST want to be cured. If there is no inner need, no rehab will help. Kid will learn what to tell parents to make them feel well, get out of rehab and within two weeks will take again. And maybe even die, bc of lower tolerance after being clean for two months.

[@cecilbdemento7736]

Too many people making money to enact and enforce laws. Government has lost its way. We the people disagree!

[@kyanoang3l0_old]

What makes this even worse is that bad pdocs and therapists exist. If parents would have the power to get their kids into treatment, they have to be sure that it's the _right_ kind of treatment. But if they're mostly or wholly ignorant of mental health, how could they? :/ I've never experienced addiction before, but I suffer from anxieties and depression since early age. And I've bumped into 2 bad pdocs so far, in a country where there's already a shortage of pdocs and therapists. I was forced to see the last bad pdoc cos my parents couldn't see anything wrong with him. Sadly, they're too ignorant about my condition and put all their trust on the pdoc. I went through >3 hellish years of relapsing mostly on my own while also concealing my deteriorating state cos of it, too scared of being forced into a distant treatment facility that seemed more like a military school than a psychiatric facility. (Perhaps, another "troubled teen" school?) My parents having the power to get me into treatment in this case did a bit more harm than good. Ironically, it was _my_ idea to see a pdoc in the first place. I just didn't expect this. Thankfully, I'm recovering now, relying mostly on my meds, support from support groups online, what I know about my condition, and the mental strength I've regained. This's not to discourage people or parents from seeking treatment, but I think we should be more educated about mental health and more cautious about the medical professionals we see.

[@yfa6244]

@@zumurudlilit Bologna! Those who are mandated for treatment by the courts actually do wake up sometimes! Don't you think it's worth a chance?

[@saltywetreefer3985]

It's not just a child problem. Even adults should be forced to get help. That 18 year old cut off is strange.

[@CHOICEBETWEENFEARANDLOVE]

They are not old enough to make that decision for themselves until they are 18. In extreme cases it should be lifted to 21. This is not right 😓 This is neglect - this law needs to change!

[@kcallaghan7839]

This is denying parents their legal rights,but what are your laws about dealers selling these drugs too?

[@sboyle536]

Age of majority should never have been lowered below 21. Just another example of trying to get new, left leaning voters? (Although I can't justify drafting 18 yo without giving them the right to vote. A real conundrum) Canada seems to be keeping up, or even ahead, of the US in progressivism. The brain is still maturing at 18. Didn't Mark Twain recommend locking them until 21?

[@lmn1966]

When kids live on the streets. There is no age limit for taking drugs. Its also environmental behaviors learned from their families.

[@artemisiak677]

I've worked in a residential treatment center for girls 13-18 for 3 yrs now and worked in adult treatment for 3 yrs prior to that. One of the problems is that parents don't talk to their kids about these things and have no boundaries w their kids. That in itself would prevent a lot of these tragic stories.

[@honeybunch5765]

I think enough info is out there for people to know it is dangerous. Maybe things like smoking marijuana and being high in general should stop being glamourised in movies and by celebs.

[@Gaza_Empress]

Ive talked to my daughter about these things since she was young. Age appropriate. Shell be 15 next week. I hope n pray she uses the knowledge n stays away. Unfortunately shes seen first hand how bad it is. Her auntie is in recovery, its been really hard on my daughter. Thank u for helping where u can. U make a difference. 💖

[@matildamarmaduke1096]

@@liftedgifted6010 why you laughing????

[@user-di6cn2ne7u]

@@honeybunch5765 smoking some weed is definitely not the problem here. It's one of the most safe options compared to pain relievers, antidepressants, alcohol, or any of the many other mind altering substances.

[@TheMasochistKnight]

@S that doesn’t change the fact that all drugs are glamorized by main stream media. It’s very VERY easy to go from just weed to something stronger, if you’re buying drugs off the street and partying, you’re eventually gonna be offered more than weed. For people with mental health and genetically disposed to addiction, that can be an issue too. It can def be a gateway, it was for me. I’m s few years clean now but I know if I were to go smoke a blunt or hit a bar for some drinks right now.. I’d probably end up with a needle in my arm by the end of the night.

[@katherinesmith3814]

My granddaughter left home at 16 and now lives in a home where drug use is the norm. Despite her mother’s desperate tries, no one will help. She is mentally ill but refusing help. 16 is considered old enough to make her own choices. We have a huge problem and we will continue to loose these children.

[@codysmith605]

So much respect to the people out there trying to help.

[@alysononoahu8702]

💯

[@orangepeelqueen2787]

I get why the law exists, there are absolutely times when it is safer for teens to be able to seek medical care without parents knowing. But being unable to put your child in drug rehab when they've just overdosed seems crazy to me. It's a tricky area but the circumstances should be taken into consideration.

[@SpaceRanger187]

All about extorting money

[@1two994]

I think itd be different if it was treated as a danger to self or others

[@merricat3025]

Things are seldom black or white

[@suzystone244]

Thank you for opening the comments. Drug addiction is complex. It's debilitating to the abuser. The family. The job. Law enforcement. Court system. Affects anyone in between. It takes real decisions to get off the drugs. Another to seek help and treatment. The difficulty is STAYING sober. It can be done. Many are proof it works. We need to talk about the casualties. Not leave anything out. Honesty is a big part in the recovery process.

[@tieiatalks]

Beautifully said. ♥️

[@Pollencakes]

The issue is people think you have to stay sober. Abstinence doesn't work for the majority of people because most drug users are using drugs to mask underlying medical conditions. This ignorant look at addiction is why we lose people. It is not patient informed or trauma informed, it is moral scapegoating. Coercive medical treatment rarely works and just creates resistance and avoidance of any future intervention. We need to do better. Have more empathy and compassion in medicine, otherwise we will never, ever be able to help the majority of drug users.

[@Kiya-me]

Taking the needles away isn't the solution. That only makes them share needles, and then we have a totally different problem. The laws have to change so we can save the kids one way or another. Prayers!

[@hypnotoad28]

Don't even really need needles at all. I used to enjoy my heroin fine by snorting it mixed with water or smoking it on aluminum foil and inhaling the vapors with a straw. So yes, it's silly to take away needles. I'm glad there are needle exchanges out there where users can safely dispose their used needles and get clean fresh ones for free -- reduces the amount of needles you see out and about as well as disease transmitted through sharing.

[@thebodykeepsthescore2828]

What will prayers do?🤦‍♂️

[@saraehernandezz]

Yessssss 100% harm reduction is the way to go. Safe needle exchanges are the answer.

[@missdeeva2266]

@@thebodykeepsthescore2828 more than you can ever know if you are not a faithful praying person

[@thersalee5782]

@@thebodykeepsthescore2828 try praying then you'll know God Bless you!

[@shanemillott5229]

This is the only disease thats treats lonliness with isolation..I swear drug addiction takes your Soul..It destroys everything and everyone around you.. My prayers are with each and every one of you...

[@summerbummer1930]

As a recovered addict and parent this video was extremely difficult to watch. I'm in the US and god my heart is beyond shattered for these parents. I cannot wrap my head around their pain, being legislated into helplessness. It must be torture. If there isn't something underway already, I really hope BC amends or repeals this law ASAP. I don't doubt those who created and passed it had good intentions. There definitely are situations where children having their own agency is truly the best thing for them. But drug addiction is absolutely not one of those situations. An addicted brain is in no shape to be making good, rational choices at *any* age - but you factor in teenage rebellion and perceived invincibility, it's a recipe for disaster. A well intentioned law can still be a broken law.

[@mikeheaton8424]

100%

[@TypeSly]

Be honest... While you were an addict, if someone forced you into a rehab when you didn't want to, do you think that's what would have made you get clean for good? If you say yes, I don't believe you were ever an addict.

[@tonyhoffman3309]

Forced detox, and then followed by 1 to 2 yesars with FULLY resourced counseling and life skills and jobs training, IS effective. Addiction is a medical issue. If a child broke their leg, we don't ask the child, do you want to get it set at the hospital or nah? Would you do that if your child was anorexic?

[@katarinaharris7677]

“Why take the risks ? “ “Cause it feels like home” That hits home

[@cyberpunkedgerunner2644]

Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes.

[@loRdpharaoh]

sounds like an abused person who needs healing and is hiding in the high.

[@melaniemarceaux9580]

I live in Louisiana and I sent my 17 year old to rehab, and thank God I was able to. It may have saved her life

[@user-lt5cg5wz8m]

I lost a very close friend to opiates a year ago tomorrow… she was in and out of rehab for years and still the addiction became worse and worse. Liam’s eyes look exactly how hers did….Huge pupils filled with fear. It breaks my heart to see it.

[@savannahleblanc4929]

I’m sorry about your friend ♥️🖤 I got a phone call at 11:30 pm on May 15th of last year that my 52 year old Mom had passed away and lost her life long battle with addiction and it broke me however she was the 11th person in 6 months that I had lost to addiction. I have been sober now for 10 + years and I never want to look back or do that to my daughter. I wish I could say that my Mom was the last person I lost to addiction but unfortunately there have been more!

[@leahhayes8256]

I remember the times being 16 and having my first PERIOD and didn’t want the doctors to tell my mother and NOW you telling me a 14 year old can be using drugs and the parents are not told 😳…

[@pendizzy6352]

12 yrs clean & sober . Maryjane medically. I'm grateful I got out b4 everything got laced with fenty.

[@tieiatalks]

Incredible! Congratulations!

[@kimwagoner1147]

CONGRATULATIONS. Great job.

[@daweedking1]

Recovering addict here... 10+ years sober... If someone refuses help it makes no sense to force them into help when we have such few beds and such high demand for those beds. If we have a problem with prioritizing bed space we need to make wayyyy more beds available to people that need help. Only to have large amounts of those spots get wasted by people not ready for treatment.

[@fredajordan5704]

Jon, so very very true. Parents can give it one try, but in most cases it will not work. Only on a voluntary basis kids have a chance. And this sadly can take years and years....

[@crystaldenee765]

But we’re talking about CHILDREN - I agree with you - if we’re talking adults. Children don’t have the capacity to make ANY DECISIONS

[@naraendrareddy273]

You're no longer recovering. Youre clean.

[@ReRe13-]

@@naraendrareddy273he will be recovering for the rest of his life!! Just like alcohol !! Whoever is an addict will always be

[@deek.704]

The courts do nothing to help,The government does nothing to help.My son is a drug addict,I’m so afraid I going to hear he’s dead.Lost my nephew last Thanksgiving.It’s a nightmare& like living in a bad dream and can’t wake up!!we lost 10 young ppl in our town a few years back.God help us all

[@courtneyaxtman8645]

I feel for Joe Thorne. He’s a good guy and he needs support. He has a huge heart. We need people like him in charge. Keep fighting Joe, keep helping sir.

[@godisgoodallthetime7622]

I'm disgusted. The whole point of treatment's to address the underlying problem. I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'm praying for your children.

[@Ehiphop7]

this is terrible to hear. I called 911 in Connecticut to call ambulance and lied said my son is dangeriing himself suicidal and they took him to psych ward for 2 weeks involuntary. I went through so much fighting for my son since he was a teen.thank goodness in Connecticut I was able to put him in a facility by force. he is 30 now and thank God doing great. I'm blessed. I will do whatever I have to. call police whatever I had to.

[@royharper2003]

With my insurance, I have to do the same thing, suicidal, or the insurance will not approve psychiatric hospital admission

[@Jc22ny]

I don’t think forcing someone into treatment is the solution, but there must be exceptions to when someone’s life is in Danger due to their addiction or mental illness.

[@allilee2523]

Nothing broke my heart more than learning Curtis lost his granddaughter. My grandpa never had a daughter so when he heard my mother was having a little girl I think he decided I would be his daughter and I really was growing up. I think it broke his heart more than anything realizing I was using. I know losing the ability to raise his daughter made having a granddaughter the best second chance he ever had. I know it must have broken hiM more than anything to lose her.

[@Mr-pn2eh]

As a 24 year old man. I may be still young but even I am saddened by this. I'm glad I hate these drugs with a burning passion and I get pissed when I see other people my age vaping.

[@tammathashade2033]

I'm a recovering addict,almost 20 years.. SADLY, YOU CAN'T MAKE SOMEONE GET SOBER..

[@realSimoneCherie]

So? If it’s only .0001% effective - it’s STILL worth it

[@vicm6561]

That is so untrue . You break the law you go to jail. Fine line between fear and respect we are soft on crime these kids fear nothing . We have become a bunch of enablers that needs to stop.

[@ameliashostak4764]

oh god this hits SO close to home because i am on BOTH sides of the fence, so first and foremost i am a mother but i'm also a recovering addict. i can clearly see both sides of the coin. i just wanna say first that you can't, no matter how hard you try, help someone who isn't ready to be helped...a person has got to make that choice for themselves. each and every time i tried to get clean i was doing it for someone else, and each and every time i went right back to it. one day out of the clear blue i decided enough was enough and i've been clean almost 4 years and have NEVER looked back. but also in saying that, i couldn't imagine if it were my child who clearly needed help but the government tying my hands behind my back! what actually can a parent do in that situation?!? my heart breaks for every one of these parents having to watch their kids die right in front of them and not being able to throw them a lifeline. you just won't understand until you have to go through it, and i'm almost convinced there isn't a family left on this planet who hasn't been touched by this in some shape or form.

[@downthetrailtruecrime]

You're right, you can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped but you can shelter them until they are mature enough to want help. By shelter I mean grounding and if possible homeschool. Did you ever consider relocating to where your teens so-called friends couldn't reach her? Like the U.S. where we don't have these crazy privacy laws?

[@thersalee5782]

Truth..

[@theroxygirl731]

Tough love is the only answer. If you wait for the addict to be ready it will never happen, they will continue to use until they have no other option.

[@jewel8425]

Tough love how? Throwing them out of the house? Then they're where this documentary is showing. Get them in jail? Make more rules they won't follow? Do you have children? Have you had any experience with drug use?

[@peacemaker61]

@@jewel8425 spare the rod and spoil the child, that is what happening to the sociery now, thats the whole ugly truth.

[@sanaullah6182]

Watching and listening in Pakistan. What an unfortunate situation for teenagers. Laws need to be amended in order to save life of young people in Canada. Predators and drug suppliers must be punished severely.

[@nadinemainprize4802]

My daughter died in Victoria as well and now I’m a struggling grandma fighting to get my granddaughter help , she lives with me now .. this angers me so much !! My gd is 13 !!!

[@jrambo7495]

Studies have already shown that a person's brain isn't fully developed until they're an adult. Teenagers don't have the mental capacity to make their own decisions relating to certain things.

[@azaleawilliams9141]

In America we have tough love and strict policies and I grew up in the opioid crisis. It doesn't matter how strict or permissive the laws you can't force an addict to quit until they want to.

[@donnaheight4790]

It's sad as I was just watching some documentar today and where some countries has made all drugs legal and where they give them to the addicts. The crazy thing was these countries had so many over doses pee day/year and it's now basically reduced to barely none.

[@ChicoTunda]

It’s because people had access to safe drugs, they were gonna do them anyway but after they were decriminalized the people could finally be sure what they wanted wasn’t laced with something that they didn’t

[@Bughugger]

Wow, that video at the end with Olivia and Sarah tore my heart out. Thanks a lot Fifth Estate.

[@999tj6]

Wow… that episode came full circle with Liv being the first mentioned and her grandfather being the one speaking at school!

[@vix_xie]

Is the child's (specially a minor) right to privacy more important than saving his life? As a parent, I truly don't understand that law in BC😓

[@ChicoTunda]

It doesn’t have to be one or the other, most cases of overdose are when there is an extra ingredient added to the drug, like fentanyl. If clean drugs and safe procedures were more accessible there would be less deaths.

[@sequoiamackenzie9706]

Rest In Peace Liv ❤️ My heart goes out to anyone who has struggled with addiction themselves or who has lost someone to addiction. This was a hard one to watch.

[@sergevallee6516]

You need to be ready to go to treatment for drug addiction or any other substances. Trying to convince or force someone to go to treatment is the wrong approach. I went into my first treatment for drug because of my girlfriend. 3 month later I was in the street again and using my drug of choice with a vengeance, meaning i was using drug way more than the first time I went to that treatment. 3 years after my first attempt to get better with my addiction, i decided i had enough, and hit rock bottom. I went back to the treatment center. for 14 month. I needed that so bad, but it was my choice to go at that time. worked my butt off, and today I know if I go back there (using drugs again) I will die.

[@letmethinkaboutit8982]

For everyone who lost their loved ones to addiction, my utmost sincere condolences to you. My heart and prayers go out to you. May you find the strength and healing to carry on. And may your loved one(s) Rest In Peace.

[@francespetryshyn439]

Wow, everyone should watch the, thank you so much for sharing, so heart breaking, seriously, thank you, my heart breaks for you both

[@jennifermarie1230]

This is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!

[@valerieterblanche4636]

No law will stop me from putting my kid in rehab

[@JohannaKarlssonFromHultsfred]

In sweden we have a law that makes the person in danger get hospital treatment and then a treatment in special homes. We have all kinds of laws that are supposed to protect children and sick people

[@Jc22ny]

I really feel harm reduction, education and treatment options for those who want/ need it is the key. More resources should be put in place so that someone in need of help doesn’t have to wait 3 to 6 weeks for a bed.

[@achirichello1208]

YES

[@volition2015]

Now you may not even need a bed. Withdrawal is managed by a switch to something like suboxone, and then slowly weaning the patient off the opioid. But it is only a short term solution.

[@mobiusstripper7279]

I can't find affordable care for my brother who desperately wants and needs a treatment program. This makes me sad.

[@aulakh2]

Another problem which no one addresses is the breakdown of FAMILIES. DO CANADIANS EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE MEANING OF FAMILY.

[@jamesmueller8701]

It takes a LONG time to change the mindset of an addict... 30 days detox... 90 days "in house" observation...( mental health meds can help from "self medicating" ) 90 or more days in a "half way" house...Make new friends... get a hobby... volunteer... after a year or 2 you are on your way ... worked for me any way... 70 years old and enjoying life like i never could before... ***GOOD LUCK***YOU CAN DO IT***

[@Rhonda858]

I am a recovering addict of opioid's as well, well I have not taken a pain pill in over 12 years But i still rely on a opioid blocker medication called Suboxone. I have tried to stop Cold turkey many many times and every time I did I ended up in the hospital...but at least I'm able to function on a daily basis without having to go through a withdrawal. I am in a better place than my cousin I turned to a rehab and got on Suboxone and he turned to heroine and over dosed and died at 30 yrs old smfh!

[@TheMightyBlackPearl]

From a former addict, try to remember before. Just try. One second. Remember one day that was amazing before you ever, ever tried drugs. That is possible again. I am PROOF! THREE YEARS STRONG. *WE DO RECOVER. YOU CAN RECOVER*

[@tieiatalks]

♥️♥️♥️

[@TheMightyBlackPearl]

@@tieiatalks ❤

[@TheMightyBlackPearl]

@@chucklebutt4470 it's in my past, not my present. Sure, I will always be an addict. However, the choice is now mine. I'm not in the drug induced state I was in, and salivating. I'm sober. I can see where things went wrong. Today, I steer clear of things that could put my sobriety at risk. With sobriety comes responsibility. Thank you! ❤ I am definitely working hard and full steam ahead. Now I try to work with people and show them recovery is possible. I know how miserable I was and I got out. Now I want to help others do the same. ❤

[@TheMightyBlackPearl]

@@chucklebutt4470 and yes, you are very correct. For some, this can be triggering! For me it's not because it's a reminder. A heavy one. Hearing family members, friends, ect. It helps me understand how my actions affected others, not just me. ❤

[@yamunajolicoeur2807]

Doctors have to be accountable too ..!

[@grambag7956]

did you know a huge percentage of people released from rehab relapse and then die because they have no tolerance?

[@cdickenson82]

There are so many issues with the way society has approached drug addiction that need to be addressed and some of the solutions are very controversial and I'm saying this as a former teen addict. I think first and foremost is the availability of support. It takes months or even years in certain cases to even get a treatment slot and detox does not by any measure work without treatment or massive support following the detox program. They need to make treatment available within hours or a few days at most. You see sometimes an addict will have moments where they are ready to try and quit but those moments will not last forever for a variety of reasons. Also whether you agree or not we need safe sites and we would also be better served by safe supply sites as well otherwise there will continue to be overdoses especially nowadays with the advent of the synthetic opiods being so widely available and easily produced. Yes it may seem like it's enablement but it may just be the thing needed to see an individual safely to those moments of determination to quit because regardless of supply no addict wants to remain an addict.

[@Parpyduck]

I'm an addict now 2 years clean in recovery (after a solid 18 years clean I relapsed for a few years, now starting anew). I'm grateful that the safe injection sites existed when I was using. Users who otherwise would have surely ceased breathing and died had they dosed in solitude were resuscitated by the staff on many occasions while I was using their services. As far as safe supply, I sort of approve of it to save lives in the short term but a lot of those programs are afraid to ask anything in return from the addict. Without driving them back into the arms of their dealers as a source, should ever there be sea change in federal and provincial addiction policies, a little stick to go along with the carrot seems to have worked like gangbusters in Portugal. Why it's hardly a free-for-all drug utopia - open drug use, public nuisance and crime are still dealt with by police working in tandem with the gov't offering these programs who can apprehend offenders and bring them to a special court. Many of their addicts use that counselling, structure and newfound stability to pick themselves up, often taking the initiative to make the leap to sobriety when they've finally regained some of the lost grip on their lives. We'd need a massive overhaul of our policies, but Portugal seems to have found a better way than any other nation as yet and I think it'd be ideal here.

[@cdickenson82]

@@Parpyduck well said

[@canadianatheist3578]

Watching them throw out all those clean/unopened needles was the most upsetting part of this video! You helping someone by undermining harm reduction strategies and punishing them blood born illnesses!

[@cinnamoslut]

Right? That was infuriating. So so stupid.

[@cinnamoslut]

Throw out your kid's clean needles... Now your kid's still an addict AND has Hep C. Wonderful.

[@jennaferandjasonlapierre1176]

The system is broken. I went to school for mental health and addictions and I refuse to work in a system like this. They keep people sick and put the ownership completely on the sick person . Letting a mentally ill person decide what is best for them is not always a good idea. Of course they should have a say what happens to them but they need advocates to make a treatment plan . How can you expect a person with a brain disease to make good choices? There's a fine line between harm reduction and enabling and I believe we've crossed that line . Common sense has completely left the building.

[@Njb246]

Truth!!!

[@nextpage3535]

Wow! Amazing documentary! So full of life ... and death. The young guy has so much depth. Amazing!

[@lemonadedots8743]

Alberta has the PCHAD program the protecting of children abusing drugs, where upon the parents seek an order from the judge and they are put into a detox program and have access to addiction counselling, however its still not enough ......

[@creatorschild8247]

The BC laws regarding kids is pure evil. No man made law….. is going to tell me what I can & cannot do when it comes to me or my families health & well being. The authorities who back these sinister laws & contribute to the death of kids will be held accountable on judgment day.

[@crystaldenee765]

Amen

[@ChicoTunda]

These laws exist to help defend kids from parents who believe they know what’s best.

[@Lauri226]

Tyvm for this btw. It was a great way to show ppl who don't get it how and how and why this I'd going on

[@hallievanoutryve3109]

Heartbreaking. Its tricky, bc, Its true being forced into treatment often backfires. Elliot’s friend is right… abstinence treatment is not for everyone, harm reduction and safety should be the goal! Elliot’s father made me cry. It’s gotta be so hard for a father especially to feel so helpless

[@bishyeahbish3758]

I wasn't lucky enough to have my own kids but I can only try and imagine how much it breaks your heart to know your child is addicted to drugs and you just can't set them free from it. I've been on and off heroin and crack since I was just 15 and now I'm 39, the dumbest thing I ever did in my whole life was to try heroin because it made me feel soooo gooood and that was the start of the slipperiest slope I know of. Kids...seriously...from the bottom of my heart....just don't try it in the first place, thats the most simple way I can say it. Please take the advice of a guy who had it all and lost a potentially great life!à

[@vhead612]

Breaks my heart. I have 3 indigenous kid’s. IM that kid. I hope & pray treatment can be real and accessible to all those who need it. Kids are not nearly mature enough to know they’re now invincible. I’m not invincible. I know I have so far to go. But how would getting the help needed for a loved one be in the next 10 years? We have dirty politicians refusing money that’s much less.mental health services…when and how? When my daughter is likely to be diagnosed ADHD and is 9. I’m a single mom too, What good are services without laws & what good are laws without services?

[@explorermike19]

You can't force someone into sobriety. It is as simple as that.

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

I’ve done A LOT of drugs in my life but I was never an addict and I know this because when I met my wife I just stopped messing with the stuff. My wife and I have been married 19 years this June & I don’t miss being high at all. I’ve lost friends to prison and lost them to O.Ding. Now a days I don’t even like the feeling of painkillers or muscle relaxers & we used to grind them up & snort them in the early ‘00s. I had shoulder reconstruction three years ago and afterwards got a small prescription for oxycodone. I took one my first day home and one the second day and tossed the rest. I’ll take pain any ole day of the year. At least pain let’s you know you’re alive.

[@register1430]

Another 5th WIN. What an excellent presentation. AND a big loss for the BC Ministers deputies and handlers - probably had a month or more heads up but couldn't bother to even go through the motions of an interview. Can't even come up with a good fake excuse. The Cowichan solution looks ground breaking.

[@flowergirlabc123]

I couldn't imagine the pain and heartbreak. I think the government should place these kids into a LOCKED treatment centre for a good year and reteach them. What else can be done? 12 years old??? Omg. Never dreamed this would ever be a problem and wasn't a thing when I was growing up. So sad.

[@belle8i]

If tough love is putting your child in a treatment center, then these kids have it too easy.

[@k.c4411]

Housing with no force of treatment unfortunately is enabling. They will never want to stop. Everything is handed to them.

[@colonelhacker3661]

I can't even watch this entire thing, it makes me sick. My sincere condolences to all the loving parents who were powerless to intervene.

[@donavonwayne1102]

We need very harsh sentences for dealers..I mean they are molesting our children's minds

[@rikailayabbir]

Yeah

[@rikailayabbir]

@@shirmeymckamey9386 Correct

[@rikailayabbir]

@@shirmeymckamey9386 It’s a societal problem

[@rikailayabbir]

@@shirmeymckamey9386 Society is getting more degenerate

[@rikailayabbir]

@@shirmeymckamey9386 Yep. You’re right.

[@Iamjoeberg]

Oh you poor girl... That video at the end absolutely broke me.

[@nathanial82]

Getting to the root of the problem would solve this, but that would cut off profits to the ones claiming to stop it.

[@royaleobsidianb6976]

I love the guy who’s doing harm reduction! It’s not enabling because they will do it anyway, it’s better they do it safely.

[@nellymoo635]

Ridiculous. This is too stupid! And you've got muppets threatening parents for doing their job. JESUS!

[@norman7527]

Excellent documentary which isn't judgemental and certainly is an eye opener. Respect

[@caseyblidook9899]

It has been a long time since I was in Victoria. This is horrible to see in such a beautiful place. I hope that the people involved can get some changes made and other communities in BC are with you.

[@wambwv8780]

Please change those awful laws that take away parents from taking care of their children.

[@ChicoTunda]

These laws exist to defend children from parents who may have good intentions, but in reality have terrible actions.

[@rigelabanes699]

19:09 "young people have reasons not wanting for information to be shared"...they are not emotionally and mentally mature to determine that.

[@raevj]

Why is that guy wearing a stethoscope in this? That looks ridiculous to us healthcare providers.

[@mdh8629]

I've struggled so much with this in my area nsw 2444 and my teen after his introduction to drugs and alcohol through new friends. It was horrific, but I'm grateful he survived 🙏 but I'm terrified it may come back again in the future 😢 I just pray he now has the knowledge and skills to help make better decisions forever ❤

[@christinemoore517]

I'm not a canadian but opiate addiction is a MEDICAL problem with a host of psychological problems associated due to abuse by those who would prey on the broken child or young adult. Throwing them in jail is Torture and only rarely will stop "the problem". If my parent tried to put me in a place where I would be tortured for a medical and psychological abuse problem I would refuse to go too. At the MINIMUM these kids should be treated by a doctor with a humane medical detox program. They should be seen and treated by a psychologist and receive a societal reentry program of some sort. These people are ill not bad and punishment is only making their problems worse.

[@thedemonnemo]

Pulling knives on innocent people isn't "medical".

[@christinemoore517]

If you continue not to treat these people then you will have more crime. Punishment doesnt help.treatment does.

[@thedemonnemo]

@@christinemoore517 unlikely, as we're told these people die without the treatment they are refusing. I do feel sorry for the non violent addicts, but threatening the lives of innocents merits punishment regardless if you are high on opioids or not.

[@christinemoore517]

I agree that they are not above the law and should be held accountable but witholding humane medical treatment should not be acceptable.

[@christinemoore517]

Oh and one more thing "These people" could just as easily have been your own son or daughter.

[@waynecaudle2204]

Being an addict I know when your finally ready for help you need that help right away, not wait months, then sit in a run down detox for a week only to have to pass a urine test before you are eligible to move on to treatment, I was a heavy user so there was no way I could pass a urine test for at least another week, the government had a big part in allowing this crisis to start, the government has to do much more to get people help

[@vc9482]

This is hard to watch. It's infuriating how the government is tearing the kids away from the people who want to help them the most.

[@mariarojas4205]

The U.S.A. Justice System needs to be more MERCIFUL TO CHILDREN WHO TURN INTO ADULTS WHILE BEING HOOKED ON ANY KIND OF DRUG /S. Kids ,STOP DRUG USE ! LOVE YOURSELVES