HARM REDUCTION THE WAY TO GO

In response to 'We're out of our minds' by Kathleen Best, in the
October 6/09 Comox Valley Echo.

Addiction is a compulsive, physiological and psychological need, it
is a chronic illness that knows no barrier of age, religion, culture,
education, income, or social standing.

The stigmatization addicts experience is real, and it is this
stigmatization that makes it difficult for addicts to seek help.

Adoption of a harm reduction outlook creates future opportunity to
promote health, education, and referral opportunities the addict may
not otherwise reach for. As a nurse, I support the values of the
Canadian Nurses Association (www.cna-nurses.ca) supporting harm
reduction as a vital link which can restore dignity and choice to our
most vulnerable.

Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca) states harm reduction reduces
drug-related risks, and therefore reduces health, social, justice,
and enforcement costs.

Harm reduction decreases contact and spread of HIV, Hepatitis B & C,
Tuberculosis, and other pathogens.

This is not including the respiratory, soft tissue (burns,
abscesses), bone, cardiac, foot, and dental problems of the chronic
addict which present to our ER's.

I applaud the vision our Courtenay council has shown by adopting a
harm reduction approach by supporting the free crack pipe plan.

Terry McLennan RN 4th year BSN student North Island College