SULLIVAN DEFENDER DERIDES COURIER

To the editor:

Mike Howell's article "Addiction prediction" (12th & Cambie, Jan. 30)
surprised me.

I expected more from a seasoned investigative journalist. His
condescending remarks about Mayor Sam Sullivan's proposed Chronic
Addiction Substitution Treatment Program only echoes past comments
made by other ignorant and "in denial" so-called political and
community "leaders" in our city.

Howell wrote, and I quote: "The mayor's plan would see doctors
prescribe legal medication to addicted criminals so that those people
won't have to commit crime to feed their habits."

Not all addicts are criminals and not all addicts need to commit
crimes in order to feed their habits. There are plenty of junkies
living in Kerrisdale, too.

Mayor Sullivan should be commended for proposing a new approach that
focuses on treatment as opposed to all the other approaches (that have
failed miserably), focusing on policing and punishment.

Treatment that includes, but is not limited to, medication to get off
drugs, finding the reason for drug addiction, counselling, support,
housing, job training, etc., is the key to helping those addicted live
positive and healthy lives.

Doctors have been prescribing legal medication to heroin addicts so
they can successfully kick their addiction for quite some time. It's
called methadone.

First-year college journalism 101 states: Do your research before
writing your article!

Peter Carr,
Vancouver