INSITE IS PREVENTING DISEASE AND OFFERING TREATMENT

Re: Proof of Insite's value in the numbers, April 18

I thought the article put some good information out to the public
about Insite, which has been around long enough for people to
understand what it was intended to do.

That is namely to prevent the spread of disease - HIV and hepatitis C
- - while creating a window for treatment, all in a secure
environment.

How anyone today can still slam the program as promoting drug use is
shocking.

I am the parent of a recovering addict, who has now been clean for 10
years and a productive member of society.

The whole rehab process was painful and costly in many ways but at the
end of the day it proved to be totally worth it.

Imagine if in the process of recovery there had been a positive HIV
diagnosis.

Insite can help prevent that. At the same time it is obviously taking
some addicts off the street, which by extension, will reduce the
number of new users.

Statistics will always be difficult to find in support of this
program.

But seeing Insite as promoting drug use goes along with seeing jail
terms as a cure to addiction.

Anyone displaying this cavalier mind set has never had to deal with
addiction in their family or taken the time to fully understand the
problem.

Ted Dufresne, Delta