Together is the only way we will stop addiction.

ARCHES opened close to eight months ago and there are still many people who are worried about how discarded needles are affecting nearby businesses.

They say why aren’t we putting more money into prevention? They chose this lifestyle why should society pay for their choices?

Because it’s human. A simple answer right?

The world can be a very selfish society where everyone is so focused on money that people forget what compassion and empathy have to offer worldly problems.

Many people that suffer from drug addiction also suffer from mental illness and past trauma. Why should we refuse to offer them help?

We should be treating the sick, not punishing them or treating them like criminals.

The ARCHES safe injection site offers counseling and services that addicted individuals benefit from.

Although we can’t force people to participate, why on god’s green earth could people deny helping others just for the sake of helping them.

The safe injection site is preventative and educational.

They teach addicts not to share needles which in turn will prevent HIV and AIDS as well as other blood-borne diseases which causes human suffering within our society.

Education is compassion, not nameless finger-pointing at the helpless.

Europe has been using this method of aiding addicted citizens for three decades through consumption sites. It put a huge dent in the population’s addiction recovery time.

It is also no one’s right to tell people how they should live, no matter what the circumstances. Things always get better before they get worse. It must be the individual’s choice to want the help.

Shouldn’t we offer the help and not let people drown?

It is unfair.

It is people’s responsibility to take care of one another.

If people work together, progress is unstoppable. When humanity is remembered, a little bit of light peeks through this dreary world.

So, before the world asks, “What’s in it for me?” perhaps the thought should change to “What’s in it for us?”