SOCIAL WORKER SEES DAILY NEED FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGES

Re: "No needle trading" (Editorial, Oct. 16):

I am a graduate of the College of Health and Human Services at SDSU and a
professional social worker. For 10 years or more, many health care
professionals have tried to educate policy makers and journalists about
epidemiology.

I wonder if the author of the editorial has ever sat in the sexually
transmitted disease center at our Department of Health Services at the
Rosecrans site? Has he/she ever looked into the waves of daily faces of
those San Diegans being tested? How many people must die before San Diego
wakes up?

It is my feeling that perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to
health services in San Diego was Dr. Bob Ross. I jumped for joy and wanted
to rent a truck and trailer and a band to drive around San Diego
celebrating his departure. From opposing needle exchanges to giving away
the tobacco monies, he did not serve our county well.

Patrick Keith, Imperial Beach