ROBIN ADAIR
VANCOUVER ISLAND – “Was University a dangerous place when you were there?” That question was posed by a former classmate at our recent 50th high school reunion. My old pal was trying to understand how an 18-year-old UVic student could tragically succumb to fentanyl poisoning in a comfortable campus setting. “No,” I responded, “It was different in my day and we never saw drugs like that”. Well, this may be true but upon reflection, I believe there’s more to the story.
Indeed, the increase in opioid use and the rising death toll from drugs laced with fentanyl is the scourge of modern society. There is a lot of attention on how we respond to this crisis – for example, the need for more treatment supports and easily available naloxone kits -but not as much about the causation. So, let me weigh in about the factors that I believe have contributed to this crisis.
Let’s be frank here. Young people today are under tremendous pressures that earlier generations (in my case baby boomers) never had to face. The cost of living has made it virtually impossible for most young people to own a home. Even high achievers with university degrees face a daunting task to match their parents’ comfortable lifestyle. For those with moderate incomes it’s simply a struggle to pay the rent. And for some young people, a refuge from feelings of frustration can be found in taking a pill or with the jab of a needle.
For those of us fortunate to grow up in the 60’s and 70’s, the world was our oyster. High paying jobs were plentiful in the professions, resource sector and retail industry. Home ownership was commonplace and disposable income allowed for an easy lifestyle. Sadly, this golden age has passed us by. Today the resource sector is a shell of its former self and many career paths have diminished or disappeared in the wake of technology advancement.
Society is rapidly changing and many people are falling through the cracks. Education is part of the solution but also there is a need for programs to help people get on their feet and succeed. Low-interest loans and grants for first-time home buyers would be a good start, along with other benefits for young people entering the workforce. It’s also time to reinvest in our rich resource sector to create and sustain well-paying jobs in every region of the province.
I believe If people are enthusiastic about their future, they’ll have little reason to seek the dullness and danger of drug use. Rehabilitation is important going forward but re-creating an energized, optimistic tomorrow is crucial.
Robin Adair is Co-Host Victoria Rumble Room
