It seems counter-intuitive that a government would give its citizens heroin for free. Heroin in many countries is taboo to the extent that it is not only illegal but frowned upon. Governments tend to reprimand individuals who use illegal drugs, but not Vancouver. Vancouver is giving heroin to it’s addicts for free.
Vancouver has had a history with drug related crime for years due to the vast amount of heroin addicts present in the city. Initially, a safe zone was instilled for addicts were they could use heroin with the supervision of a nurse without the threat of being arrested. This place is known as Insite. Here they give them clean syringes, antiseptic wipes, and other equipment that makes taking heroin a bit safer.
Now, instead of just giving someone instruments for heroin use, in extreme cases they distribute heroin to them for free as well. This counter-intuitive idea is not for everyone. Currently only 26 people in Vancouver are given heroin due to their inability of their bodies to take to the heroin alternatives being studied and the heroin must be prescribed by a doctor.
By giving these individuals heroin and a place to use it, this program is a form of harm reduction. Drug users are synonymous with crime such as armed robbery, breaking and entering, sex trafficking, etc. This is due to the physiological and physical dependency on the drug. By giving them a place to use the drug, the instruments, and the drug itself.
Although at first glance the program Insite is absurd, after learning about the good it is capable of as far as the community is concerned, it is exactly what the city needs. By eliminating the reason a group of people commit crime and giving them what their body is hooked on so they will not die, is killing two birds with one stone.
Rowan Counterintuitive 