WE CAN'T SAY "NO" TO HELPING ADDICTS

Few people are in favour of facilities like safe-injection sites, but there
are benefits for us as well as for addicts in such an idea. Free, clean
needles will at least reduce the risks of contracting AIDS, hepatitis and
other infectious diseases. From an economic point of view, the cost of
government drugs should be low and few addicts would be willing to go to
drug dealers who charge much more.

However, such sites, which are different from drug recovery facilities,
should in no way to be located near residential areas or schools. They
should be established on outlying islands or in industrial areas or places
far away from residential areas.

Many addicts are unable to rescue themselves from the nightmare.

I plead with their relatives and friends to try as much as possible to care
for them and help them.

I hope the public medical system can greatly increase the number of drug
recovery facilities. I hope social workers can follow up and care for
them. I hope law enforcers can take serious actions against drug dealers.

If we can work along these three lines simultaneously, we will be able to
turn the tide and save drug addicts from hell, which would be beneficial to
both the country and the people.

Vivien Chen