ADULTS DESERVE DETOX BEDS, TOO

To the Editor,

I agree with the letter from Pat Johnson (Re:Detox beds not enough for
youth, Aug. 12.)

While I am pleased for the six new government funded youth detoxbeds,
my excitement stops short when I realize it is only the "youth" of
Nanaimo these services are being aimed at.

What about "young adults"? What about "older adults"? Why is it just
the youth that are the focus of the attention?

We need to stop discriminating and realize drug addiction is a problem
for everyone. It affects us all in one way or another, whether we are
the addicted or the families of the addicted.

If you have loved ones, or friends or people you care about with
addictions, if you are tired of the crime and decay in the downtown
core, if you feel helpless in the fight against drug abuse and the
carnage it reaps on family members, then stop complaining and get on a
letter writing campaign demanding more from all levels of our government.

We need a lot more detox beds.

We need more long term treatment beds after detox, at a price the
addicts can afford -free.

We need to lobby the courts and MPs and beg for mandatory treatment
programs as part of sentencing.

It isn't enough for police to fill the jails with users and dealers,
only to release them to the streets to start the cycle all over again,
and on our tax dollars. I would rather my taxes went to pay for the
training of these individuals so they have the knowledge for career
choices to get them off the streets and away from criminal activity.

If you really care, get out your pen and paper and start writing
today.

L. DUPUIS

Nanaimo