ADDICTS ARE PEOPLE, TOO

I recently received one of James Lunney's Conservative propaganda
flyers in the mail, which I usually toss in the recycle bin. The
front cover has a picture of a syringe in a playground stating "Safe?"

If it refers to the how safe the safe injection site on the downtown
east side is, the doctor should read the studies about reduction in
needles found on the surrounding streets and of course the improved
health of the people using the service.

The flyer then goes on to describe how the Conservatives plan to deal
with "junkies" and "drug pushers." Such damaging statements made by
our current MP and the government he represents appall me.

For them to actually send these mail outs to the constituents to
further marginalize an already stigmatized population of people on
our dime is enough for me to support a fall election.

The offensive Tory comments and Dr. Lunney's party-speak comes from
their ignorance about the issue.

Political incorrectness aside, calling people who continually try to
overcome their addiction to drugs, junkies is discriminatory. Most of
the human race is addicted to something, whether it is to drugs,
alcohol or tobacco (which by the way are legal and deadlier
substances), to food, shopping, and the list goes on.

By dehumanizing people with addictions and using fear tactics, this
government attempts to devalue their lives and convince the
electorate that they should be out of communities and kept in rehab
or behind bars.

For every dealer that is jailed, there will always be a smarter one
that steps into place and there are more people now who suffer from
addiction than ever.

Using the word rehab, an Americanized term that has been
sensationalized by Hollywood for fallen celebrities, is best left for
reality TV. Someone in active addiction needs treatment that is often
best done in a person's own community in which he or she lives.

The good doctor and this government should be looking at other ways
to tackle this problem other than demoralizing people they were
elected to serve.

I hope in the next election that they will be replaced with one that
puts compassion into Canada's drug abuse policy making problematic
substance use a health and human rights issue.

Pamela Halonen

Qualicum Beach