Athabasca is a beautiful place, but like any other place in the world it has its problems. The first step to fixing a problem is recognizing it exists. So let’s begin.
One: There are drugs in Athabasca. Just a couple weeks ago, a man overdosed on fentanyl. He was on Highway 55 when police were flagged down to help him. Athabasca RCMP said afterward that there had been reports of fentanyl use in town – and that’s just one drug. The town’s investigation of needle disposal units is a first step to recognizing an issue and preventing further harm.
Two: There are people who are addicted to drugs who live all around us. For instance, you see people suffering from addictions in court all the time. The average person in the area may not see the problems associated with addiction during the course of their daily lives. But these problems exist in our communities, and they deeply affect us in ways seen and unseen.
Three: No matter how much you tell people “Don’t do drugs,” there will be people who do them. What can be difficult for some to accept is that not all people who do drugs are bad people. It’s easy to vilify people who are addicted to drugs, but that does not help the person. If anything, it makes it worse – it can be harder to ask for help, if you know that by doing so you fall in the eyes of those around you. We recognize the government agencies who work in the area to help people with addictions, and we commend the Athabasca Community Health and Wellness Coalition for bringing world-renowned doctor and addictions and healing specialist Gabor Maté to town to speak.
The Athabasca Advocate’s office is located on 49th Street in the Town of Athabasca. Its staff are often here at strange hours. The back alley and the riverfront are not places we like to walk at night, especially not by ourselves. Quite frankly, we were a little surprised when local officials said they hadn’t heard about drug use at the riverfront.
There are drugs in the area. There are people who are addicted to drugs here. We have to recognize that they exist, and be careful not to cast them to the shadows where they stay out of our way and out of our minds.
