DRUG ADDICTION THORNIER THAN LETTERS WOULD SUGGEST

The Editor,

Re: "Shoplifters have no morals or willpower," the Now letters, April
8 and "Store owner greed makes theft problems worse," the Now letters, April 5.

As an upstanding citizen with a child addicted to heroin, I have read
both arguments with a mixture of anger and amusement.

Is it the store's fault? Hell, no. Should we become more educated and
have more compassion for people struggling with this problem? Hell, yes.

The debate is always the same: disease or weakness of character. It
is my experience that it's a little of both. Yes, we are fortunate as
Canadians to have many social programs in place to help those
afflicted. Unfortunately, it takes many months to get into treatment
centres, and in the meantime these kids or young adults hit the
streets to get their "fix." You will all get a rude awakening (I did)
if you drive to Whalley any night of the week in the early morning
hours. You'll see hundreds of young drug addicts limping and
dazed-eyed crawling the streets.

Now picture dropping your handsome son off and watching him disappear
into the bowels of hell, his body wracked with pain, looking for his
"fix" when the methadone clinic isn't open until 5 p.m. the next day!

A heroin addict needs a fix every four hours. The average user needs
about $40 to $60 every four hours. Few jobs could ever meet that need
so our children prowl the streets at night doing things they were
never brought up to do, nor are comfortable doing. Their need is so
great, all morals are forgotten.

I point this out not as an excuse but rather as an explanation. In
the event some of you write in saying if she'd just raised her son
properly, I have two other children, neither of whom are afflicted
with this problem. In fact, one just graduated from university.

I have no answers as to why some children are afflicted with this
huge problem. I am happy for those of you who never know or live with
this nightmare. I worry endlessly that he is stealing from my
friends, my neighbours or my community, and that he'll be hurt or
killed before he gets the help he so desperately needs to become a
productive citizen. Remember, if I give him money, you will label me
an enabler.

Sanjeev Grewal should remember that it is the liberalism and
generosity of Canada that enables him or his family to settle here.
Funny the thing that attracted them to Canada is in the end the thing
they attack.

C. Richards

White Rock