FOOLISH, BIGOTED APPROACH TO INJECTION DRUG USE

Re: Federal government appeals ruling on safe-injection site to nation's
top court, Feb. 10

Promoting health with needle drug abusers is a fundamentally sound
idea for victims and society. Fundamentalist Stephen Harper/George W.
Bush doctrine declares that needle exchange programs must be banned
because they promote drug abuse. What a foolish and bigoted opinion!
Supervised injection sites decrease the reuse of syringes, increase
the use of sterile water, provide alcohol swabs and reduce the risk of
overdose. The injection site also serves as a referral centre for
addiction counselling. Drug users who go to these centres have an
increased willingness to enter detoxication programs. By all criteria,
these programs save lives, reduce the spread of disease and reduce the
use of illicit drugs. We must extend them, not eliminate them.

Louis J. Kennedy, MD

Kingston, Ont.