THE KEY IS EDUCATION

If the abuse of drugs and alcohol and coping with addictions is a health issue, why are we not treating them as we have past epidemics?

Smallpox, diphtheria, poliomyelitis and influenza have been conquered or controlled by prevention using vaccines or inoculations.

Prevention is cost-effective. It is better to prevent than have to treat the illness. If small epidemics break out across our country, we spend our resources and energy to rush in personnel who inoculate contacts and susceptible people in the community.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a more complicated problem, but the principle is the same. In this case, education at an early age helps to build immunity before being exposed.

Educational programs in elementary school are cost-effective in the long run. It is sad to see the millions of dollars spent on treatment and rehabilitation compared to the small amount of funds available for prevention.

We seem to have our priorities backwards.

Donald Watt, MD

President

Alcohol-Drug Education Service, Vancouver