GIVING IN TO ADDICTION

To the Editor:

Bravo to Dr. James L. Curtis for condemning needle exchanges for drug
addicts (Op-Ed, April 22). Not only do these programs not work, but they
ignore the innate dignity each addict possesses as a human being.

In effect, they say: "You can shoot up and be as high as you like. We
really don't care as long as you don't get or spread AIDS."

The same can be said for free-condom programs and so-called safe-sex
education in our schools.

These say to teen-agers: "Have sex with whomever you wish, whenever you
wish. We don't care as long as you don't catch AIDS or burden us with your
babies."

BRIAN SCULLY
M.D. New York, April 23, 1998
The writer is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia
University.