CRACK SMOKERS AREN'T PEOPLE MOST DESERVING OF HELP

I am by no means a frequent contributor to your opinion page, but
editorials like last Thursday's ("Research needed to find why HIV hits
crack smokers harder") cannot be allowed to go uncontested. I am
bewildered and angered by calls for more and more money to be spent on
those who have made poor choices in their lives when so many who are
affected by circumstances beyond their control are forced to scrape by
with meagre government support.

There are so many adults and children with disabilities, disorders and
diseases who are out there doing their best to be productive members
of society.

Let's first give them the help they deserve; then we can help those
who make poor choices.

The media's attention to the Downtown Eastside would have us believe
it is the only area in the province that deserves our financial support.

Look around.

It isn't hard to find someone in your neighbourhood who needs help,
too -- and he or she is likely not a crack smoker.

Michael Duhaime

Delta