OLD-FASHIONED IDEOLOGY

Living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside can be quite a challenge
sometimes, even for those of us who don't do drugs.

But for addicts, it can be a matter of life and death.

Before the safe-injection site opened, people used to overdose and die
here every week.

Things are now more orderly and safer for IV users.

The only person I've heard of dying from an overdose had injected
herself outside the safe-injection site.

Most people in the Downtown Eastside support Insite. Health Minister
Tony Clement has shown little concern for Canadians who suffer from
the medical condition of drug addiction.

His policies are old-fashioned, and we need new ideas.

Clement and his supporters should take a good hard look at what is
meant by harm reduction and public safety.

STEPHEN KINNIS

Vancouver