OPIUM MORE OF A NIGHTMARE THAN SWEET DREAMS

Re: Driving addicts to more serious crimes, Voice of the People, Jan. 29

Letter writer Tony Smith describes opium as the Chinese "relaxant of
choice," something that he believes only "causes sweet dreams."

Sweet dreams, yes, but along with them come severe addiction, huge
weight loss and social and economic problems, leading to health
deterioration and early death for the opium addicts.

True, there was no "violent anti-social behaviour." Addicts were so
weak they were incapable of it. Chinese people were laughed at as the
"Sick Men of the Far East." When finally the courageous Governor Lin
Tse-hsu of Canton seized the British supplies of opium, it was used
as an excuse to attack China. The Opium Wars led to Hong Kong
becoming a British colony until 1997. I understand Smith's good
intentions, but he should read up on the history of opium.

Monica Tam

Vancouver