AN ADDICT'S STORY

Brampton, Ont. -- Six years ago, I had an apartment that looked out over
downtown Brampton and across the street into Tony Clement's office. I had
thought about going to see my MPP with my problem, but an election was on
- -- the one that brought the present Ontario government to power the first time.

My problem was that I wanted to go into a detox centre and a 28-day
treatment centre for drug-and-alcohol addiction but, if I did, my welfare
would be cut off because being out of town for that length of time was
against the rules. I wanted help but couldn't get it.

I had been drinking and using drugs for about 25 years and, in the previous
seven years, had been milking welfare one town at a time and augmenting my
income with petty fraud all over the place. I had been on the street, and,
in those last two years, I visited my doctor regularly for ultrasounds,
X-rays or blood work, costing OHIP copious dollars.

I got the treatment anyway (my welfare worker told me how to lie to get
past the rules) and was off welfare in eight months. I've had nothing but
yearly checkups at the doctor for five years, and I am gainfully employed
- -- paying taxes! I have a wonderful home, the respect and love of family
and friends, and I help the occasional addict with some volunteer work I do.

Your editorial (To Decriminalize The Use Of Drugs -- Aug. 22) cites the
common idea, "Invest a dollar in treating drug addiction . . . and $6 will
be saved in other costs to society. Others have calculated the net gain to
be greater still."

When I go downtown to meetings for the volunteer work, I drive by
stairwells I used to sleep in. I drive to work past houses where I used to
pay $5 at a side window for a couple of Percodans. And I drive to see my
mother and I can look her in the eye and hug her and accept her love. Put a
value on that.

The treatment system was good for me. I am healthy and clean. But I look at
the waiting lists now and at addicted friends who went back to using drugs
after hearing about waiting months to get an assessment, and I shudder.

To the business side of Health Minister Tony Clement, I say this: Where
else could you get a 600 per cent return on investment? And to Tony, the
man with kids and family, I say this: I have a soul, I have my life back.
Thousands of Ontarians don't -- they are on waiting lists and they are
suffering. As a province, we need to invest here and we need to do it now.