ADDICTION DILEMMAS

Editor:

I have some questions regarding the proposal in A.C. Brumell's letter
of Sept. 22 ('Redneck ignorance in response to addiction').

What constitutes a "registered addict" and where do new addicts go?

If, after receiving his free dose, the registered addict does not do
a crime, what does he do?

Does he go to work, or school, or does he just hang out until his
next fix? Who provides food and lodging for him?

Who and where are the (presumably) legal dealers from whom society is
buying its drugs?

Since "registered" addicts are not committing crimes, is "they
wouldn't let me register" a defence plea available to an addictwho
does commit a crime?

There is no doubt that drug addiction is a serious matter,
tremendously complex, and cannot be solved by simplistic methods.

I also have a sense of futility about the attempts to deal with the
problem - but like many others, I have no definitive answer.

Perhaps Brumell could work with the operators of the safe-injunction
site in Vancouver with the view of implementing some modified version
of his proposal.

As hesaid, let us try something else.

F. W. Macauley

Kamloops