DRUG PARAPHERNALIA KNEE-JERK REACTIONS NOT THE ANSWER

Editor;

As a parent of a child who grew up in an environment in which drug
use fears have always been present, I support the intent behind White
Rock Coun. Catherine Ferguson's reaction of wanting to remove drug use items.

If councils in White Rock and Surrey really want to have an impact
that shows we are serious about stopping drug killers, let's get at
those cigarettes and alcohol. These drugs really kill people and ruin
lives, to a degree, statistically speaking, much worse than anything
coming out of a hash pipe.

Having seen examples of facial scarring and being aware of more
serious consequences from crystal meth, I understand the concerns
about this drug. However, before we ban products which are legal -
pipes, that is - perhaps we should look at the larger picture of how
hypocritical we look to our children when we say we want to protect
them from the ills of pot, hash and crystal meth, yet we sit on our
hands about cigarettes and alcohol.

Could it be we turn away because government gets tax revenue from
these sources, while we ignore ills inherent in this prostituted way
of funding provincial programs?

On an immediate level, most of us likely are disgusted by the site of
pipes encouraging the use of drugs. It is equally important to show
respect for law and due process for all citizens.

When it comes to our children, what do we really want? We want them
to have a life in which they make responsible choices. We have
decided, as a society, to require cigarettes and alcohol be off
limits unless one is of a certain age. We have placed parameters
around use and access to these items. This approach should be used
with the issue of these pipes as well.

Knee-jerk reactions of appal and disgust won't solve a problem that
has been with us for centuries.

Steven Faraher-Amidon

Surrey