NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS CRITICIZED AS ENABLING

The false hopes and virtues of a needle exchange program (NEP) are always
promoted passionately. But as a wise man once said, "Passion often rules,
but she never rules wisely."

The results of a Montreal needle-exchange study, published recently in the
American Journal of Epidemiology, prove the point. Researchers led by
Julie Bruneau of the University of Montreal found that intravenous drug
users who got their syringes at city needle exchange programs contracted
HIV more often than those who acquired their needles elsewhere, including
over-the-counter in pharmacies, which is legal in Montreal. Nearly 1,600
such users were chronicled for 21 months, and 89 got HIV; the probability
for a needle exchanger was more than double that of a nonexchanger -- 33
percent to 13 percent.

Promoters of NEPs have attempted to discount data from studies like the one
from Montreal or others that show a 20 percent increase in crime rates in
the areas surrounding the centers. Hopefully, the full San Diego City
Council will vote no on this matter. We don't need to suffer the tragic
fate of Montreal and other cities by implementing a policy that will worsen
the plight of these people.

Ken Moser, trustee Community College District San Diego

Are we going to give addicts clean needles on demand, so they won't get
AIDS? This is the essence of modern liberalism: Remove as many negative
consequences as possible for people who make "bad choices," then create a
dependent relationship, so that those people have little incentive to
change their ways. It's called "enabling," and it does nothing to improve
the addicts' plight. It may make you feel good, but they're the ones
getting high on your dollar.

John Kiss, San Diego

Keith A. Anastasi (Letters, Sept. 18) states that addiction is a disease.
He's just another touchy-feely person who believes everyone is a victim.
Aren't people responsible for their actions? Cancer is a disease, but
addiction merely indicates a character weakness and a lack of
self-discipline. By mislabeling addiction as a "disease," we just give
addicts an excuse for self-indulgence.

Bill Cowing, Solana Beach