NEEDLE EXCHANGE EXACERBATES ABUSE

Re: Victoria city council urges action on needle exchange (News, Feb. 2)

Reporter Roszan Holmen appears to be disparaging of Coun. Geoff
Young's attempt to "disrupt the relatively comfortable consensus" on
harm reduction. I for one am very pleased Coun. Young is there to
offer such a contrarian view, one that is shared by many Victorians.

The city's own report, released in 2008, shows each addict does crime
worth an average of $350,000 per year to feed their drug habit.

Rather than supply addicts with the tools of their addiction, better
to provide services to wean them off drugs, while eradicating the
drug dealing scene.

Roel Hurkens

Victoria