ADDICTS NEED HELP, NOT NEEDLES

Re: Needles And The Damage Done, Allison Hanes, March 31.

It is sad that the argument about safe injection sites is between
those who enforce the law and front-line workers who favour harm
reduction. I think that giving away drug paraphernalia may contribute
to some additional drug usage, but more importantly, it really does
little to help, as users still buy their own drugs. Serious addicts
often must turn to crime or self-destructive alternatives, such as
prostitution, to support their habits.

Clearly we need to offer a real alternative for these people. They
need direction and a positive philosophy that says there is a right
and a wrong. That was the role of religion.

I have two children and they have friends involved with drugs. If my
kids start stealing from us, I will know they are also involved with
drugs.

Drug addicts need counselling, not free drug paraphernalia.

Phil Marentette,

Calgary