STOP HELPING ADDICTS

A member of my family is addicted to heroin. This young adult is not a
"functional addict." She is no longer able to get or keep a regular job. She
must lie, cheat and steal to support herself and her heroin addiction. I
found out how she gets money for drugs, and I want to ask my community to
stop giving it to her.

Sometimes she gets as much as $200 per day by going through the trash
barrels at Valley River Center and the Gateway Mall. She finds receipts,
goes to the store, finds items identical to those on the receipts and
returns them for cash. Please, merchants, stop giving cash refunds. Give an
in-store credit, or a mall-wide credit, but please do not continue to fund
her premature death. Some people may be inconvenienced, and some national
chain stores may require local outlets to continue cash returns, but I
expect that the most vocal complainers will be addicts seeking cash.

Another way to get cash is to panhandle near the University of Oregon.
Well-meaning and generous people give her a dollar here, $5 there, until she
has enough to buy heroin. About $20 is enough for a dose. Recently, near
Sacred Heart Hospital, a lady gave one of her heroin-addicted friends $100.
He overdosed the same day.

Please do not give money to panhandlers. Give money to a deserving social
service agency. Eugene has more social service agencies per capita than most
other cities. Truly needy people - the poor, hungry and homeless - have many
resources here for meals and other emergency assistance. The panhandlers
simply need cash for alcohol or drugs. Please stop helping them to further
their addictions.

These are two simple things that my city can do to help my family. I love
this city, I love my family and I appreciate your help.

Mary Newman

Eugene