TORIES RIGHT TO CLOSE INSITE

The federal government's efforts to close the Vancouver Insite
facility against significant odds are to be commended.

In couples therapy, when a family member helps an addict acquire
their chosen drug, it is called "enabling." Though enabling may keep
the peace in the short term, any psychologist knows it is bad therapy
and only prolongs the addict's agony.

In the same way, scientific studies that purport to show benefit from
injection sites are confusing "harm reduction" with benefit, and
providing a shoddy rationale for "institutionalized enabling."

A better approach would involve compassionate yet firm boundary
setting, and letting people face the consequences of their own
actions, a principle known as tough love.

After all, few people will develop personal responsibility until they have to.

Michael Greenwood

Victoria