Li Yanxiu accused social workers of distributing drugs, Shen criticized the rumor as going too far

KMT Chairman Cheng Lai-wen called for a "Say No to Drugs" event on the 9th. KMT legislator Li Yanxiu actually said that "social workers will provide drugs in the community in the future." DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang yesterday criticized "it's too nonsense and goes too far" and asked Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan if he agrees with such rumors? Should we also come out to explain and apologize?

The National Federation of Social Workers Associations of the Republic of China issued a statement demanding an apology from Li Yanxiu. Since Li Yanxiu has joined Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan's speech team, Chiang did not apologize when asked by the media yesterday whether he would apologize.

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Jiang Wanan said that social workers are very clear that the origin of the whole incident stems from Shen Boyang's article in 2014, which stated that "community centers distribute drugs and needles, and then social workers are required to intervene...". After a pause, Jiang Kaci said that as far as the professional scope is concerned, social workers should not be involved in the implementation. Alternative therapies are implemented under the strict supervision of professional medical institutions and professional doctors. Jiang also reiterated his firm stance against drugs entering the community and entering schools.

Regarding Jiang Wanan's repeated distortion of Shen Boyang's research article, Shen yesterday criticized it again. This is not because he doesn't understand, nor is he careless. It has reached a bad level. This is very, very negative publicity. Please don't do this again.

Criticism destroys the system of drug harm reduction

Shen Boyang was interviewed at the Huguang Market in Neihu District yesterday. When asked about Li Yanxiu's statement, he said that this is a very serious issue. He criticized the Kuomintang for spreading rumors as extreme and excessive. On the first day when the Kuomintang spread rumors, he kept reminding and calling on them not to harm front-line personnel. Why are so many frontline professionals angry now? It's all because of rumors that have completely destroyed the system of drug harm reduction in the past ten or twenty years.

Shen Boyang said that if the rumors were aimed at him alone, that would be fine. His opponents liked to fight such negative campaigns, so he would accept it. But how could he discredit social workers for distributing drugs in the community? This is really ridiculous and excessive; this matter is very serious, and we must apologize, sternly explain, and admit to spreading rumors.

He pointed out that Li Yanxiu had joined Jiang Wanan’s campaign speech team. “Does Mayor Jiang agree with such rumors? Should Jiang come out to explain and apologize to social workers?”