COMING CLEAN ON HIS ADDICTION

If nothing else, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman is open
and transparent -- at least about his personal life.

The province's first openly gay cabinet minister has revealed that he
was addicted to street stimulants in the 1990s for about five years.
When he realized that the "party drugs" were affecting his life,
Smitherman decided to see his family doctor, who instructed him to
see an addiction specialist.

Smitherman took the difficult next step and saw a specialist who
helped him deal with his addiction. The 42-year-old minister said he
thought alcohol played a role in causing him to get involved in the
unidentified street drugs.

Smitherman made his admission last week while speaking to the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health Courage to Come Back Awards.

"When I saw that word 'Courage' so large behind on the screen, it
made me realize it would really not be right to mount the podium and
make the traditional greeting," Smitherman said.

"So I said what was in my heart. I left the room a better person. It
was liberating. If it comes back to haunt me, so be it."

Smitherman isn't sure what prompted him to use drugs, but it started
about the time his father died.

Today, he says he has beaten the addiction, only taking the
occasional glass of wine.

The admission is quite a statement from anyone, let alone a cabinet
minister, and the health minister at that. But it is recognition that
anyone can become an addict -- even the person whose job it is to
ensure the public's health.

This admission has been greeted with words of encouragement that have
risen above the political realm.

Even Conservative leader John Tory sent Smitherman a note of support
in the legislature this week. It remains to be seen if the health
minister's words will give strength to the addicted, but they should.

Obviously, you could not have a health minister under the influence
of any drug when in office.

Too many serious and confidential issues must be discussed in the
portfolio. But Smitherman is sober now and fit to serve.

Ontarians should praise Smitherman's courage to beat his addiction
and be candid about his problem.