Canada's cure for alcoholics: Give them more alcohol!

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Dis

seriously. How bad is the homeless problem in Canada? Surely it's too cold for the homeless. We have homeless die due to the weather in my city (though usually from the hot weather- but sometimes in the winter). We have thousands of homeless in my city. And the problem is getting worse.

"bad" is a relative term.

We have homeless, particularly noticable in the larger cities. Most suffer problems related to homelessness (drugs, mental illness, etc.).

I suspect we have more shelter spaces due to the climate here (just a guess) where the homeless can stay warm at night. Many opt not to use the shelters and sleep on grates, in doorways, etc. I can't imagine living like this but some do regularly.

And yes, some die every year from sleeping outdoors.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Dis


haha! Yes I make fun of Canada, but I secretly want to live there.

The only problem is. I'm too busy having fun living in a fun place to live, and don't want to live someplace boring and cold. .

I never said anything about wanting to live anywhere.

But you ARE clearly infatuated with Canada. You can't help but start threads about Canada and making little comments about Canada, probably hoping against hope that some of this affectiion might be returned.

Admit it man and STOP before it becomes an obsession.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil


"bad" is a relative term.

We have homeless, particularly noticable in the larger cities. Most suffer problems related to homelessness (drugs, mental illness, etc.).
.

, . .. . and the relative affluence of the city seems to be irrelevent. Calgary is booming with more jobs available than people to fill them, yet the homeless problem continues. I've seen the same men on the same corners year after year.

[Dis]

haha, I will never stop until Canada is officially admitted as the 51st state.

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Winston
I like how you change your style so effortlessly between abusive and civil,

I aim to please.

albeit with a nasty insinuation tagged on at the end.

There is something faintly Orwellian in refering to the greater part of a post as something "tagged on at the end".

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Winston
On the topic, I would say homeless alcoholics are likely to be at the very bottom when it comes to personal ressources required for possibly finding a way out of their situation. As such they are very much in need of guidance from the outside, and offering them 15 glasses a day for eternity does not seem to carry much hope for alleviating the underlying problem What these people need is assistance in overcoming their addiction, not assistance in perpetuating it for the rest of their short natural lives.

It helps to read the article.

Critics said the study lacked a comparison group, such as an abstinence program. Others lamented that offering a drunk a drink is contrary to common sense.

"We've been accused of facilitating alcohol abuse, but we feel this is a very useful tool in combating a serious societal problem. Just because someone has failed an abstinence-based program doesn't mean they should have to die in the street," Turnbull said.

"We agree that abstinence is the best approach to alcohol addiction; however, when abstinence programs have failed, we still have to care for the individuals," he said.

"By giving them alcohol in modest and controlled amounts, we've been able to minimize the harm they do to themselves and work on their bad behavior."

The program will soon be expanded to 24 beds and healthcare providers in other Canadian provinces and the United States have expressed interest in setting up their own.

[notyoueither]

The guy in the article was on the national news last night. A couple things not reported in the article are that some of the participants cut down to as little as 6 or 8 drinks a day, and a couple went on to quit drinking entirely.