DRUG CRISIS OUTPACES RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH IT

As one of the people tasked with keeping the peace in Vancouver, I
support the concept of needle exchange (Downtown Eastside is a drug
warehouse, police say, July 18). Although, John Turvey, who is
responsible for the publicly funded exchange, claims to recover more
than 100 per cent of the needles distributed, many times I've seen them
handed out by the handful.

If needles are exchanged, why do the residents of Vancouver continuously
find used needles in their parks, school yards, gardens and at their
businesses? Why do the police frequently arrest drug dealers with
pockets full of needles, that are offered free with the purchase of
cocaine and heroin, to people (many of them with mental health problems)
who give no indication that they are looking for intravenous drugs?

Has our current needle giveaway reduced AIDS and HIV or increased the
number of intravenous drug addicts exposed to these diseases?

Mr. Turvey, however, is accurate in stating that law enforcement hasn't
been adequate. Even though the policing pillar is the only one of the
four pillars in place, it's fair to say that the policing resources
currently dedicated are not proportionate to the illicit drug crisis.

Sgt. Mark Horsley
Vancouver Police Drug Unit