DRUG ADDICTION 'DISEASE OF CHOICE'

Re: "Drug maintenance program would hurt organized crime," Sept. 9.

Unlike the author, I am not an expert policy analyst, just an ordinary
taxpayer.

My first question to the author is this: Who is going to pay for this
expensive program? Unlike other diseases, drug addiction is a disease
of choice. If you want to mess around with drugs, don't expect the
community to pick up the tab.

The author also mentioned the Swiss drug maintenance program. Many
years ago, I wandered, by mistake, into the park next to the
Hofbahnhof in Zurich and was amazed to see needles strewn all over the
park. Because of the free drug program, this park became a magnet for
abusers not only from Switzerland but all over Europe, and was
popularly known as Needles Park. The community in Zurich finally
decided that enough is enough and the park was closed down.

I want to reiterate that unlike other health problems, drug abusers
choose to do drugs. Their problems are self-inflicted and it would be
wrong to expect the community to pick up the tab.

Teow Tong Chua

Coquitlam