WE NEED HARM REDUCTION TO HELP OUT DRUG USERS

Re: Crack-pipe kits delivered with the wrong message (Your Letters, Daily
News, July 16)

Helene Champagne claims: "Distributing crack pipes to addicts is
telling them it's OK to indulge in drugs."

I disagree, people who are addicted to a certain drug, will keep using
it until they make a life-changing decision to stop. She continues,
saying: "They have to learn that there are consequences to all our
actions. And illness, injury and maybe death is a consequence of
taking drugs."

There are consequences to many things we can do, and harm ourselves.

But as a caring compassionate society, we strive to improve the safety
and well being of everyone, even drug-addicted people who some deem to
be of less value or not worth our care.

Considering we, the taxpayers, foot the bill for health care, I'd much
rather be paying the pennies it takes to distribute clean sterile
pipes and mouthpieces, or clean needles. A trip to the hospital
because of illness, injury and infection will cost us much more.

What we need is harm reduction distribution, alongside with education
and quick access to help, once an addict chooses to turn his or her
life around. A three-month waiting list for a detox centre, when one
has no home to start rebuilding their life from, is not acceptable.

Mike Foster

Laval, Que.