LADNER'S COMMENTS HARDLY INSITE-FUL

To the editor:

It is concerning that a high profile civic politician could raise
doubts about the value of needle exchange programs for HIV prevention
("'Celibate' Ladner moves right," Sept. 17).

Rather than "killing addicts with kindness," scientific reviews by a
virtually all international scientific bodies, including the World
Health Organization, have concluded that needle exchange reduces rates
of HIV infection. Since each case of HIV infection costs the taxpayer
an estimated $250,000 in medical costs, they also reduce the burden on
our already strained healthcare system.

Dr. Evan Wood, B.C., Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Vancouver