Drug addiction without treatment can turn the addict into a drug dealer

Despite the harmful consequences of abusing drugs, some people still use them frequently — but addicts without treatment and support may become drug dealers, experts say.  

When people consume drugs frequently, they can potentially become addicts and this may take them down unhealthy paths if they do not have the required support. 

According to the Canadian Drug Crisis website, 47,000 Canadian deaths are linked to substance abuse annually. Statistics show 23 per cent of Ontario students, roughly 219,000 report that they were offered, sold, or given a drug at school in the last year. 

Also, 42 per cent of Ontario students surveyed admit to having used an illicit substance in the last year. 

George Kyriazakos, a criminal lawyer at GK Law, said  addicts will not ask for help unless they get charged with drug possession. However, convincing them to ask for professional help from rehabilitation centres requires family support.  

“It is really hard,” said Kyriazakos.“It takes third party; it takes family member’s supporting them…It is really takes building a support system around them to encourage them to seek help.” 

He also said there are some addicts who even after having the support and help, continue to use or sell drugs. Potentially leading to imprisonment. 

“Sometimes you get clients where they have a lot of help and they just keep doing it over and over again, and then the judge can say ‘Look we should put them in the jail,'” said Kyriazakos. “They are not learning the lesson…they are too dangerous to themselves and the community.” 

Substance use may lead to catastrophic results in health, work and the community and more serious consequences if the addict becomes a drug dealer. 

Danielle Barron, a case manager at the Downtown Mission, said it is possible for an individual who is an addict to become involved in selling drugs as they put the drugs above all their needs. She also said use of substances potentially has many harms on the person’s life. 

“Problematic substance use may lead to deteriorating health, accidental death and increased chances of risky sexual behaviours. Other harms that may result from problematic use of substances include the inability to work or stay in school, ruptured relations with family, friends and community members and problems with the law,” said Barron.    

She said there is a recovery program at the Mission which is the Phoenix Recovery Program. It is offered to people who are experiencing issues with substance use and the program receives funding from the Erie-St. Clair LHIN. 

Some people during their daily lives observe others, including friends and family who are using drugs and see how their abuse of drugs can often have a negative and often serious impact. 

Saamer Mansoor, 28, of Windsor, said it is sometimes hard to fight addiction and can lead to poverty and, in some cases, illegal drug selling.  

“When I was in university, an intelligent roommate got addicted to marijuana so much that he had spent all the money for college and rent that his parents provided to him towards drugs,” said Mansoor. “He was desperate to pay for rent, food, gas, so he called his dealer and told him that he needed money and was willing to become a dealer to earn some.” 

Mansoor said, in his opinion, it is important to implement a way to reduce drug demand because the drug problem is all about supply and demand and if you cut the demand of drugs, then the drug dealers will stop selling.