A Disservice to Addicts

Drugs, are everywhere, some are legal, some  arn't.  The Untied States annually spends 20 billion dollars on its War on Drugs. War on Drug funding goes to law enforcement, recovery programs, medical assistants, education and more. Unknown fact is that through the drug war law enforcement actually gains over $20 trillion in seized property. That's enough to eradicate poverty in America or fight a new war somewhere. I would not recommend the latter as making orphans around the world isn't our best chance as safety over time. But what about homeless people who are addicts, how do they receive help?

In Tucson like many other cities we offer plenty of for profit and non profit recovery centers, 12 step programs , etc. In fact that is the biggest industry in South Tucson. Most are faith based, others are mental health agencies and community hospitals. We offer 4 shelters and that's where the disservice lies.

At the homeless shelters, you are asked to take a Breathalyzer to get in. If you test .08 or higher you are not allowed in. People appearing to be high or smelling of drugs are automatically turned away. This means that any addict indulging in their addiction, cannot receive help. This leads them to try to find a safe place outside. Many go to Safe Park, A protest for the criminalization of homelessness. The city has spent over $5 million dollars trying to get these persons out of the downtown area,only to fail. This causes more suffering, more sleep deprivation, more likely to use. 

Maslows hierarchy of needs, shows us that for a person to be happy, health and successful in life or treatment, the people must have a safe environment, have access to food, community , health, and safety. Without that they cannot go on to long term goals or success. On the streets they run into outreach workers, fellow addicts, activists and more. There they are treated as a person first and not judged on their addiction. The addicts are more willing to open us, share their experiences and you here a desire to quit at some point. 

Back at the shelter, those people are not present. There yo u can find ads on the wall about where to get information or assistance with recovery but the people needing to read that were turned away. Near by at the Sourthern Arizona Aids Foundation they are taking a different approach. They speak to addicts as fellow living beings. They take interest in the clients current situation, they talk to them about their addiction. They educate them on safety, how the different drugs effect them and the changes they will see over time. They offer fliers on places that can be more assistance on things they don't offer. Mshape is a drop in center they offer for adults and ION Lunge for minors. Here they have counselors on hand, soft couches, movies shown, a computer study lab, a food pantry and more. Shower are offered with no strings attached. People here, are getting off of drugs, staying away from more harmful drugs and practices. People are leaving the insanity of the streets and finding a place to live indoors, mending family relationships.

As you can see there is a different vibe, there is a change. A social program working the way it should. Not saying they don't have their own issues, but they deal with them quick. Funding is a issue here like anywhere in the state of Arizona right now , where tax revenues are not coming in and education and social assistance is slash over and over.  Volunteers and staff step up to the plate and fundraising and getting grassroots donation drives going. A current one is a sock drive, any one wishing to donate socks can drop them off at the SAAF office on Euclid and Broadway.

Some changes I would recommend to the shelter like Primavira , Salvation Army and the Gospel Rescue Mission are:

Change the no tolerance policy to a honor code asking addicts to not use, sell or trade on their property and let people know they may enter if they act responsible. Accept the person, educate the behavior.

End the lock down policy. There is no reason for a person to check in at 2 in the afternoon, and not be able to leave to get a soda or hang out with family. Treat people as adults and watch them rise to the standard. Let people know what your standard is, its easier to be mindful of a standard than to memorize rules. Have the cut off time for leaving being 1030 pm and allow people to leave after checking in.
Aid people in level 1 businesses so they can earn their own income while looking for a steady job.

Non Profit changes:
1. specialization- each one specializes in something, but not everyone in one thing.
2. provide all groups wishing to help with a list of tasks ranked from high cost to low cost , letting each group pick for them selves.
3. Income must be equal to those you are supporting or working in solidarity with.
4.Boards cannot earn more than 5 times what the lowest employee is paid.
5 spend funding on permanent solutions not band aids.
6. fill empty positions with clients when left unfilled for 2 months or more.

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