Illegal drugs have been a major problem in both the Philippines and Canada. However, the two countries differ in how to handle the situation. 

As these drugs run rampant, many stand up against it. I, for one, am no fanatic of illegal drugs or supporting drug dealers; nor am I a supporter of killing people because of it. There are limits on what we can and cannot do, as well as laws we must adhere to.

While the world has shown alarm with the drug war being waged in the Philippines, countries like Canada have a surprising way of dealing with their drug-related problems.

The drug war in the Philippines has taken the world by storm, with an increasing number of suspected extrajudicial killings; people are either condemning the actions or are fully supporting the campaign. While the government has received quite a backlash from human rights advocates globally, we cannot deny the fact that the drug-related problems in the country have decreased – considering the deaths have elicited fear among both drug users and dealers. Supporters of the war also claim they feel safer and secure at night knowing they can roam the streets without being afraid of drug addicts.

In Canada, just last month, a temporary supervised drug consumption site was opened to drug addicts in the province of Alberta. At this facility, addicts are allowed to use illicit substances under medical supervision. The program hopes to manage their intake and ensure they receive immediate treatment should they overdose. Staff provide them with education, support, and in-depth conversation on reducing substance abuse.

Policy experts hope these types of facilities “replicate” in order to “address the full spectrum of drug users.” The government has approved 23 such sites; however, only 12 are currently functional as others are undergoing the regulatory requirement process.

In the province of Alberta alone, Health Canada approved five other supervised consumption sites that will possibly open by the end of this year or in early 2018, as reported by CBC News Calgary.

In the same way Filipinos are divided on the drug war, Canadians have the same split on the program. There are those who disagree with the sites, pointing out, addicts should be stopped from using drugs altogether instead of being encouraged to use it under supervised medical conditions. In contrast, those supporting the program say it will save lives and provide proper education.

Drug addiction is common in a lot of countries, yet dealing with the problem has been varied throughout the years. It has been dealt with by force and violent reactions, but it somehow becomes an acceptable norm in some societies now. Will a supporting method to drug addicts through supervised consumption sites help solve drug-related problems? Or is using force and making them stop for good still the best option? Or, perhaps, there is another undiscovered way of dealing with it once and for all? Whatever it may be, I just hope that it will turn out for the best for everyone./WDJ