FREE NEEDLES ARE NO WAY TO FIGHT ADDICTION

Recently, while waiting in a doctor's office, I read a magazine article
about free needles headlined "No way to fight drug war."

The article stated that the Statistical Assessment Service in Washington
has reviewed needle exchange and wrote there had been no reduction in HIV.

One addict quoted in the magazine said, "This program does not help me, it
keeps my habit going." Another young man said, "I play Russian roulette
every time, but when I need a fix, I need it." The article also told of a
young man walking down Greenmont Avenue in Baltimore calling out, "new
ones, new ones."

Since 1994, Baltimore has given out 2 million needles; Vancouver, British
Columbia, 3 million, and Montreal, 2 million. A commissioner of health in
one of those cities was quoted as saying, "We have a problem."

I wish the people of Worcester could read this article. Some of the
contents are very ugly. If it was printed in all our cities and towns, it
would change many minds.

One addict was quoted as saying, "Common sense tells you 'no' but when
you're feeling that you're dying, you don't care."

I don't think that the people of Worcester want to give out 2 million needles.

Walter Marcoux

Worcester