SULLIVAN'S FIRST STEP IS TO ADMIT HIS OWN IRRESPONSIBILITY

Re: Mayor tells police why he bought drugs for addicts, May 2

It's very sad to see that Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan prefers to
blame his political opponents for the furore over his "research" on
drug addiction instead of recognizing that his actions were simply
irresponsible. There is no excuse for providing substance abusers
with drugs just to see what happens. Sullivan is not qualified to
dispense or write prescriptions, nor has he any experience working
with this population. His actions are no more defensible than
providing children with alcohol to "see what happens."

His cavalier attitude is behind his support for providing
prescription drugs to substance abusers without any concrete plans
for monitoring their progress or oversight to prevent abuse. If
anyone is playing politics, Sullivan is clearly trying to position
himself as the "Champion of the Four Pillars Approach" on the backs
of substance abusers whom he has treated so irresponsibly.

Dr. Kerry L. Jang

Professor

Department of Psychiatry

University of British Columbia