TREATING ADDICTS COULD FREE UP HEALTH RESOURCES

Re: Health system cares for junkies over taxpayers (editorial, March 31).

Addiction has been recognized by Canadian and American physicians as a
chronic, generally progressive and treatable biologic disease since at
least 1976. As many as one in 10 British Columbians may be addicted to
legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, to illegal drugs like heroin or
cocaine (for a total annual cost of $6 billion) or to an activity like
gambling.

There is significant stigma attached to addictions, especially, as
exemplified in your recent editorial, toward persons addicted to
illegal drugs.

For the latter group, medical and societal costs include infections
like HIV and hepatitis C. These diseases can be passed along to
spouses, partners and children and are entirely preventable.

Keeping injection drug users (who may also be our brothers, sisters,
parents or children) alive and infection-free, in facilities like
supervised injection sites - that have been shown to increase uptake
into addiction treatment facilities - is humane, aligned with best
scientific evidence and makes sound economic sense.

It might also free up spaces and medical resources and cut wait lists
for other medical conditions.

Perry Kendall, Provincial Health Officer

Victoria