The Blue Plague : Inside Scotland's Drug Epidemic
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Scotland is facing the highest number of drug related deaths in its history. In a country of no more than 6 million, last year over 1,300 people lost their lives to drugs. I took to the streets of Glasgow to hear from those worst affected by this crisis.
Shot | Edited | Produced: Ben Tobin
Pre-Title Credits Music: The Sky Had Vanished; Written by Abul Mogard; Performed by Abul Mogard; Courtesy of Abul Mogard.
Twitter: / benjamintobin_
LinkedIn: / bentobinfilm
The sad reality is that no matter how much drugs you take, you can never escape reality.
You are not wrong there 😢
This gentleman is taking far too much diazapam.
Absolutely
That’s why my perspective is to try my absolute hardest to create a pleasant reality I don’t want to escape and same for others
It’s effort and scary
One can feel so lost but then addiction can be the same. A healthy example of escapism from reality is reading fiction books or going on holiday. Sadly the other end of that is harmful stuff like drink, drugs, reckless sex etc. the best thing is trying to get on that track for ones reality to be as pleasant as possible to avoid the drugs that cause so much pain and devastation. Love to all the souls in Glasgow and Scotland struggling with this as living here is scary as hell at times.
Reality seems worse after drugs
Connor who appears around the 4 minute mark is still on the streets by day but looking a hell of lot healthier than he does here for anyone wondering about him - top bloke & extremely intelligent
But contributes absolutely nothing to society
@@miguelkeeno3403 It's a two way street.
@@miguelkeeno3403 Society?🤣
@@miguelkeeno3403what’s society doing for him ???
Goan
I was a valium addict for many years and when I finally decided to go to rehab to get clean it was 9 months of pure hell.
Out of all the pharmaceuticals on the planet valium / benzos are one of the hardest beasts to kick.
The mental / physical / spiritual withdrawal is hell on earth.
I'm amazed I didn't die simply from getting clean.
alprazolam, lorazepam, pure weed (no tobacco as i quit) mixed with booze is my problem these days, the physical and mental pain is insane after not taking them for 24 hours
More than 30 of ma pals have died through these
@@FrostFire1987 Yep, I was doing the same as you (mixing benzos with alcohol) because I loved the calm feeling that washed over me.
But towards the end I was just so miserable and desperate that I knew I had to get clean.
The first 5 days can be a real shock to the system because the mind and body is screaming out for more booze / pills.
But you eventually become accustomed to the pain and learn to push through it. The hardest part for me was my mood swings and emotional reaction to everything.
Some days I would be just walking and burst into tears for no reason at all. But needed to let all of that emotion out to cleanse myself of the madness I'd put myself through.
Try and get clean buddy. It will be the best thing you ever do!
I now have my own apartment, a good job, a nice car and can sit down at the end of the day and feel content and at peace with myself.
@@Man_fay_the_Bru Sorry to hear that. I lost many friends to pills and booze as well. Addiction is a cruel condition.
@@phatheffer3439congratulations on getting clean x
For anyone who doesn't know, David Harper is himself an ex addict. He at one time used to sleep rough in a high rise, this was obviously many years ago and he has come a long way since then but these are the people who have the best understanding of how to help addicts because they have been there & lived the lifestyle themselves. Qualifications are all well and good but nothing beats experience when you are trying to connect with drug addicts to help them. I know because I was one myself just as David was.
Spot on 👏
David Harper, the world needs more people like you.
Thank you for doing what you're doing and thank you for doing it because you care, because you're educated enough to actually speak on the subject and because you know the system is broken.
You're a legend.
A friend I went to school with moved back to Scotland and it's sad talking to him. He's unemployed always drunk and high living off his mom even though he's a super talented product designer. He always talks about moving but it's a pipe dream - quite literally.
Thank you for subtitles.
Same American family that synthesised/marketed Valium also synthesised/marketed OxyContin. They’ve got a lot to answer for.
It was no joke, even after all these years I still remember the valium withdrawals, I grinned and bared the heroin cold turkey but the other one literally destroyed me.
God bless.
I agree that heroin (NOT fentanyl) withdrawals are like a 4 day orgasm compared to benzo withdrawals!
I've never been addicted to drink and drugs but I stopped on Jan 1st this year and I can say definitely improved my life in every way possible 😊
15 years clean from all substances abuse, understanding that all these horrific stories are the crutch we all use to excuse letting our own lives crumble is the real disaster, finding people a reason to fight for their own lives is a mission no one wants to take on. loosing so many friends and loved ones over the years that's a cross we all have to bear. blame anyone but yourselves just find the will power to put the past where it belongs.
Perfectly said, everyone has the ability to better themselves and that’s all that matters. Let bygones be bygones, the future and what you do with is all that matters
Wow, fifteen years of luck considering your choices. Well done, now to make up for the damage caused🐻
@@BobPharmacon you don't know me or my choices or the huge changes in my life for the good to judge me, I give every day, what do you do ?
@@billyfivefive. I do know your life, choices and journey because, friend, you told everyone in your message. The damage you caused was perpetuating the drugs scene. Do you feel responsible or don't you?
Getting cleaning doesn't mop up the mess you made for fifteen years. If you really are scratching your head over this concept, research catharsis. It helped me.🐻
@@BobPharmacon Clean 15 years, the worst of my addiction happened over a much shorter period and I brought it to an end with my own will power, so piss off with your poison filled crap, every recovered junkie is a deep well of regrets and you must think your the philosopher stoned, fkn heard it
Thanks Ben for making this production
Insightful and very professional, ty!
I’m Italian and i saw myself reading the subtitles, than i realized they made it for English people 😂
Broad Glaswegian takes some understanding.
Wit ye siy'in?
Wasn't made for English folk either. Another that thinks England is Britain.
The lad at the beginning who said he's got a hold on it...I was that lad not long ago....I was lying to myself...I was lucky I was revived twice...hope he realises🙏🙏
Heart breaking. And beautifully and sensitively filmed.
7:25
There will always be hope for the future where the futures and reality has people like this guy in it.
God bless you pal
🙏🏼❤️✝️❤️🙏🏼
Around 2018/19 I was heavily addicted to street Vallium. I went to my GP with all the empty blister packs and he advised me I was on a suicide mission as I was taking Vallium produced in many different countries and it was only a matter of time before I got a bad pack.
He put me on a reduction program with the NHS and I was slowly taken off them via reducing my prescription. It worked for me but imagine many people would abuse it.
I’d love to help these people. I’m sure deep down they are very strong human beings that could maybe help others.
god love them would love to help them they are lovely people
Your government are too busy looking after the boat people in 5 star hotels 😄
Ok I grew up in the Highlands in the 90s and have had brushes with drugs. The problem for me as a young man was there was absolutely nothing to do. No cinema, no pool club, no sports. The only thing people did was go the pub. Now drinking doesn't always lead to stronger stuff but in my case it did. As it was the only place to go and socialise you would fall in with the wrong people and the rest is history. Thankfully I managed to go in a different direction in my 20s but I can easily see how people fall into a lifetime of drugs.
I grew up in Glasgow and valium and smack were everywhere. I was never a user but judging by this video nothing has changed, how very sad.
Part of the issue in Glasgow was the criminal justice system- who have criminalised addiction instead of making it a public health crisis - which it is. When someone overdosed & someone present calls the ambulance? The police would automatically attend, warrant check everyone in attendance - including the person who has overdosed & arrest anyone for outstanding warrants. This put people off from calling for help & left many addicts to die unnecessarily because other users were scared to call the authorities. For a time in the 90’s &00’s there was an amnesty on it but I’m not sure their stance on it today.
It should be law if someone overdoses they are left as other people can’t keep picking up the pieces or this will go on for ever there is help for these people but they are selfish as foook all they do is take from society this is not a free ride
Reason police attended those calls was because ambulance staff know those overdose callouts are dangerous, overdosed addicts can become violent when given naloxane. Dyu expect the police that show up to turn a blknd eye to warrants and not do the job their paid to do? Cmon mate, grow up
and to top it off the police control all these drugs dont care what anyone says.
@@Deadmau5l😂
@@JP-et6fj That may be, but it's not the point. The point is that many overdoses don't get called in because people are afraid of the repercussions. A friend of mine took way too much acid once, and the way the police dealt with it was appalling. My man's having an out of body near death experience, swapping dimensions and timelines, talking to infinite versions of god etc... and the police are treating him like a fucking criminal lunatic.
Lived through this in 90 and 2000's. Lost alot of good friends. Still see young ones dying in my area now. Heroin and blues. Mainly wth a spot of alcohol in between ✌️🏴
GREETINGS FROM ENGLAND 🏴 💯...I LOVE & NEED VALIUM ANXIETY AND GOD KNOWS WHAT. SAD TO SAY MY DOCTOR TOOK ME OFF THEM TO FAST! I BUY OFF INTENET OR STREET
@@jamieclarkclark756any good sources for moggies 😊
"Show me who your friends are and I'll show you who you are" - Japanese Proverb. You'll never stay clean/sober if you hang around with those who use. To change yourself - you need to change your friends, after you hit rock bottom.
Was in Glasgow 2 weeks for work. The drug problem in the city centre is a nowhere near as visible as Dublin
A really important film. Thank you
Im from just outside Glasgow and the place im from is even worse with the overdoses and drug addictions.
Thanks Ben bro..
Great video mate. New subscriber ✌🏻
*"I* *like* *to* *live* *in* *a* *society* *where* *there's* *always* *hope..."*
Hope is powerful. Truly
Glasgow has been the same for years and nothing gets done about it 😩 the guy with the blue skip cap on actually used to be a drug counselor one of the nicest people you'll meet 😢 it just shows the power that life style has over you, if you're lucky enough you'll get a shot at rehab and if you're not lucky the end result is a wooden box ⚰️ the amount of people I know growing up who have died due to drug misuse is very sad
There is work being done , But it comes down ti the causes of drug and alcohol misuse , Unresolved traumas via shit parenting acts or their habits passed on gen to gen
@@conkadonk4976 there is some work getting done but nowhere near enough all the treatment centers are struggling due to funding same as mental health services they've all been cut and only the most serious of cases are getting seen so if keeps going the way it is then the drugs crisis will be 100x worse 👍
@jamesstitt1585 They've never been better funded , But then they ignore the root cause brother , Hope you're well , It is the conky you know lol
@@conkadonk4976 know something I had an idea it was you lol I'm good bro hope you're keeping well yourself 😉👍
@jamesstitt1585 LOL am good bud, Stronger every day, Fitness head on again and running hard back to college next month , Glad your good, every year we are breathing is a good year bud 👍🏼
It’s just a sad time to be apart of. I’ve got friends who have destroyed their lives because of Valium.
were is it coming from n why isnt England getting them ?
Most of it comes from china
@davechristian7543 they get imported from abroad, India etc, pressed by drug dealers in this country and diverted from legitimate sources. They're in England aswell especially North East but its bigger in Scotland cos its more deprived
@@akmilli8179 a weeks not long really need to be on it for longer than a few weeks to get addicted
@@akmilli8179 it'd take doses of about 10 to 20mg a day up to about a month before u need to worry about addiction
Excellent vid, thx👍
I think it's mostly addictive for people with anxiety, it's target patient demo, which is a lot of people these days. Those of us with depression (which I think is often a defense against anxiety, at least for me, as I'd rather be depressed than anxious all the time) don't fancy it. Opioids are usually our choice, or stimulants (or both)
When fentanyl hits the mess is gonna be awful
already has
Not to mention dangerous for those unaware that's what someone has ODd on, touching the tiniest bit can make the good Samaritan OD too.
@@leeriches8841dude that is just not true. You MUST INGEST IT. Please stop spreading that myth. I have a massive amount of experience with opioids on both sides of the addiction spectrum and it’s just not true you can overdose on fentanyl from just touching it. The people who overdose on it, take it. Don’t be fooled
@@oppressing. really ?
I’ve not noticed the same zombie style you see in the USA in Glasgow ….yet
It never will there is no need for it, it’s to close to the source where it’s made, same as Australia where I live, we are that close to the golden triangle where china white heroin #4 is made. Fentanyl is non existent here practically. And I was a heroin addict for years
Brilliantly made.
Scotland's been flooded with valium and knockoffs for over a decade now, so its good that attention is being brought to it.
Seems the countries less fortunate cannot catch a break, first it was heroin in the 80's - 90's (though obviously that's still a problem) and now this.
Wonder if there is an agenda. This is happening across all western countrys
Reflect on your choices. Why turn to substances rather than navigating life's challenges sober? What is life not providing that you seek in these escapes? Life is about engaging with the world around you. Embrace it without fear; it's not out to get you.
Awesome Mini doc Ben! Hope to see more soon!
as an American, the title made me think fentanyl 30s made it to Scotland. I was hella worried for a second
If it was not for the subtitles i dont think i would have been able to follow along. Reminded me of when i tried watching trainspotting without subtitles.
they are in so much pain. I'm sorry guys. me too. there is hope, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
Good luck everyone recovery rules it’s possible ❤❤
Iv bin on metherdone for 32years and iv used backlofen it really works pluss I never had restless leg syndrome and I slept every night no shit o and I had 45mg of matazapin at night with my backlofen pluss it's not addictive yes I ratteld felt a bit shit but nout ya carnt handel I dropped 10ml everyweek I was on 60ml now I'm 3weeks clean powering off the shit good luck everyone
Proud eh u buddy addition isny easy 👏🏻👌
Baclofen is addictive mate. Tells you on the leaflet, not to suddenly stop taking it as it can cause seizures and withdrawals. It has to be tapered down like Gabas or pregabalin. Most GABAergic drugs are physically addictive.
it's the reason why I hate it as a 21 year old 55% burn victim. 3 days or longer without it and I feel like doing myself in, the headaches are worse than a migraine and the spewing kicks in on the 3-4th days.
It works amazingly for spasms and general nerve damage but the cons start to outweight the pros when you've been on it for nearly like I have.
Fair play to you though, takes some willpower to get through that.
@@Mr_Makina hi m8 thanks for your reply i never new that thay were adictive the backlofen you mean iv bin on them for years du to a brain injury i had in my erly 30s wich left me with a stroke and paraliced my left side im sorry to here about what happend to you tho i hope you are as best as you can be now tho all the best m8
Learn to rest , not quit. Read that again.
@@jaycee2815 thirs no qwiting in my futer m8 doune it to meny times to old for the shit of bean ill everyday hope your well m8
A lack of education parental control discipline employment and housing there is nothing for certain communities in Glasgow to be proud of to live for to achieve
We *need* to decriminalise all drugs. We know it works. Then we can move money away from policing drug use into managing drug addiction recovery. It's worked in so many other countries around the world and we need to learn from their lesson.
Name one country where that has worked. The country is too soft, that's the problem.
@@karmoogum Belgium, Estonia, Australia, Mexico, Uruguay, the Netherlands and Portugal
@@frozenrats Mexico is almost a failed country.
@@karmoogum The legal status of a drug has little influence on its popularity/prevalence
It is not decriminalised at all in Australia, lmao. Don't use us as an example, goofball
Great film - well done!
Childhood trauma commercialized upon by criminals.
I feel for them. I got of the streets just. Month and a half ago. Spent the last 2 years sleeping on the sidewalk shooting fentanyl and meth. I lost a lot of friends on the streets. We die John does alone and are forgotten. I've been sober since. RIP to all the fellow addicts we lost. No one understands our disease
04:51. The comedy of her blaming the city for her drug taking. Take her to Aruba and she will still go and seek out drugs. Completely detached from the reality of her situation.
Ben did you make this documentary yourself or is this a re-upload from another channel? If you made this documentary you should continue making many many more, i watch hundreds of vice documentaries and this is on par with their standard, good job if it’s your content, I’ll subscribe and hope to see some more
Hello. Drug addiction and abuse are not just in Glasgow.
Drug issues and abuse are prevalent in every town and city across the world.
It's comforting to know that people are more optimistic about their future.
However, has anyone ever been to Wolverhampton UK? Drug use and abuse are rife in this city, not just in Glasgow.
The only way to mitigate the use of drugs and the detrimental effects they cause on individuals and society as a whole is to have harsh drug laws that are actually enforced by the state. If you look at Singapore or much of east Asia you will find few to no drug user for that very reason
@@KinseyReynolds killing people and jailing everybody for life sentances just moves the problem elsewhere
The jails are the worst for drug addiction too.. Theres nothing else to do but take drugs in there its absolutely rife
I love that the Scottish use the words "cunts" and "people/folk" interchangeably. The funniest people around, can't top Scottish patter.
Cunts always bring this up 😅✌🏼
We do in Aust as well.
patter. what's patter? american here haha. love the linguistic differences between the various branches of English
really strange that this affecting so many people out there
Sadly I don't think you can ever solve a drug crisis whilst people are still homeless. Solve that problem first and you have a chance of solving the drugs issue.
I "Died" twice overdosing in Glasgow.. "Died" another 3 times down south in England too, been left with brain damage but at least im away from it now.. I hate to see these poor souls left behind struggling on road... it's no life.. I hope they get tf out of it at some point.
I don't miss this fk'in life.. 30yrs of this?... Thank fk i got away
Loving this new trainspotting remake
What have they go to live for ?
Gleswegian here. Nothing of value is lost.
My heart hurts for my country.
When the person was explaing the dangers if mixing things and the things he was mentioning i was thinking to myself 'ye and the rest" just mixing heroin and pregabalin is bad enough your heart can stop with just those two
Blaming everyone/everything else that guy. I can speak on this subject as I’ve had addictions myself. I justified it by blaming everyone but me! I had to to keep sane. Horrible existence 😢
At least you are honest enough to admit you were the one to blame , my ma used to blame my mates for me getting into trouble (screwing shops pubs etc) but I was the one that always had a crow bar stashed told my wee ma it was me that decided to do whatever no one else
@@kevindunne6832 I was told I got into the wrong crowd! I was the wrong crowd
@@michattac I got nicked for nothing when I was almost 16 got 3 month detention centre training ,so came out with a sack of spuds on my shoulder no a chip
..........Hope springs eternal .....
Thom in Scotland.
My best friend from childhood and youth died with age 46 years after almost 30 years of addiction. It was a mix of pills, Alkohol and heroin.
Sub well earned Sir.
Very well done 👍.
Connor sounds like an intelligent young man, its a shame he and others end up like this....
I was in edinburgh round year 2000. The most beautiful city i ve ever been to. So colourful and the people (at least those i interacted with) straight n warm. I remember that even the homeles n addicted were so polite n good. I dont know how it is now
Mad how valium isnt dangerous but becomes so in this situation.
Valium is dangerous benzodiazepines are just the hell they destructed lives en causes suicides ( because of the heavy withrawls) its hell believe me better of smoking weed but not for the lung of course ....
Police Scotland need to look at how the drugs are getting into Scotland , then tackle the criminals identified, put them in prison, takeaway their assets, foreign and domestic, take a page out of the Garda in ireland , or perhaps the IRA shooting kneecaps?
Valium? Are the drugs called something different in north America?
Same family of drugs, but in the US it's mostly Xanax, whereas in Scotland it's mostly Valium (because these were prescribed by doctors for ages, and people would always phone up claiming to have lost their bag to get an extra one from the pharma). And once they'd get their bag, they would sell the vallies on the street and use that money to buy what they actually wanted, whether it was some puff or something else.
Not too different from how it works in the US where people are given dillies, then they sell them to go buy fetty.
Not gawny say who but one of the guys in this documentary is my ex, we used to sleep on the streets of Glasgow together luckily I got out he’s still there to this day. I’m over 4 years clean now
I've been off booze 14yrs I totally agree it can be helped by speaking about your problem I eventually went into rehab then straight to long term support saved my life but we have to remember it's a half way thing we help u if u help yourself if u can get that accept that u have an issue or problem then it's a start to recovery don't be in denial you'll get bowhere
When it comes to drugs, Scotland is a disgrace. My dad died of Aids complications as a result of Edinburgh closing down safe places for addicts to inject, so they were left with no choice (in their mind) but to share needles. Him, his brother, his cousins- all gone. I will always try to talk those out of taking that- it controls your life. My dad had 5 kids and that wasn't enough, always chasing that first hit that can never be replicated from what I've heard. If you or a loved one get hooked on this- PLEASE get them help. It isn't worth it. He'd be a multiple grandfather now. I grew up without a dad. This isn't fair on anyone. People forget that behind the user is a human being with emotions, some trying to run from past trauma, some trying to escape the awful situation they're in. I live in a very deprived area of my city and there's NOTHING for people to do. Community based initiatives would go a long way. People feel like they don't belong, there's no sense of community.
so the whole of scotlands a disgraced cos your da got aids 🤔 likely via injecting wow talk about pass the spliff .....
I’m so sorry that happened to your dad and to you.
I am sorry for your loss I never realised how bad the drug problems in Scotland were until recently.
@@paulyarlett1238 They aren't
@@conkadonk4976 get your head out from under that rock, open your eyes and take a look around. Even in the poshest parts of Scotland have drug users.
Problem is that any those involved with the drug can do anything much about their addiction. I could be a drugs counsellor with all the money in the world, ready to help, but, i cant even ,with all that, 'do' much to change a mind. The only person who can really help, the person, is that person, unfortunately and ultimately 🐻 yeah. I use too.
Stronger for Scotland they said
Taking controlled substances is a personal choice. It is nobody's fault but the taker.
The Naloxone anti Opioid overdose injection is an easy thing to administer. It literally comes in a very clear to use syringe and can even be jabbed straight through light clothing and comes with full and very easy to understand instructions. You deliver a dose, wait a while to see if that dose was enough to bring the person round, if not you administer more (with the doses very clearly marked on the side of the syringe) I am an ex Heroin addict myself and keep a Naloxone kit in my car and give them out if i see any of my still using friends to hopefully keep them safe. Its a shame that a similar kit isnt available to help with these Valium/benzo overdoses?
The cop said she is not comfortable using narcan because she hasn't been trained enough. Seriously how hard is it to use narcan . What a lame excuse.
Benzos are rough. When I had an rx, I made sure to take it all in 1 week. Then 3 weeks clean of benzos, no withdrawal....I learned....
Cheerful video
Tough gig. Stay safe
I'm a person in recovery in the United States,the fentanyl problem here has people dropping like flies, it's sad to see Scotland has similar problems, it's the market and Mexican smugglers to blame here, until people like me wake up and understand it's a dead end street, it's only a matter of when your number is up
Hard going...
I’ve been stuck on prescription diazepam for 5 years because it’s the only thing that works for a neurological disorder I’ve got. I’m desperate to get off it because the withdrawal between doses is horrendous. Once I start lowering the doses all hell breaks loose. Wish I’d never seen the stuff. Completely trapped now.
I had a prescription for this for a neurological disorder too. It was sheer hell the nightmares were so bad I didn't even know if I was awake or asleep half the time. I weaned off and it still took 2 years for the effects to subside. Who the hell does this drug even help? My GP gave it out so easily.
Take it very slow in coming down.... Its not a race to get off it that's what will make u suffer more. And whatever you do don't go cold turkey no matter what your told by rehabs TAKE YOUR TIME DO IT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BLESS You I've been there
Takes months and years of weaning the dose down slowly.. I wish you all the strength you can muster to do it
Switch to bromazepam and you won't have so many issues even if u only use bromaz once weekly. It'll carry u over. Otherwise mate you need to try the liquid versions of valium so you can bring urself down as u need.
I personally wouldnt if i was u. The condition u have unmanaged may be worth it compared to life on benzos. Only u can choose. Godspeed
@@knightbrucie it’s very effective for short term problems like epileptics that are having a seizure and for people having an acute mental health crisis but should never be prescribed on a long term basis.
Now they're Levi's little helpers.
Ben Tobin, more please, you have a skill there use it if you are able to.
As bad as 1,300 people are dead imagine having 110,000 people died in one year in your country. Any and either number are unfortunate.
Combining benzodiazepinens and opiods is extremely dangerous. I hope for better days for these people ❤
"I've overdosed 16 times!" WTF?
He's exaggerating
Valium and alcohol are basically just your "numb and forget" drugs. So until these people get therapy, confront their past and learn to deal with their unbearable feelings... NOTHING will change. It needs to start at school.
The information on drugs has been freely available for decades.
If you choose to ignore it, don't cry in your milk.
Recovery is not for those that need it but those that want it
Glasgow is the best city in Scotland
Tnx
Glasgow looks so dreamy
We from India, are willing to help Scotland fight this demon..reach out to us from India please.
Oh please lord help these people that are struggling with drugs in Jesus name amen ..
Well you see there's the problem. Rather than doing anything you've prayed to the invisible man in the sky.
Thoughts and prayers do nothing.
Its the fent and valium combo which is soooooo good and soooo deadly.
Omg how people mix benzos with pain pill (parglabin) and sometimes methadone just scary how the world has become 😢
What exactly is the government doing about it though?