FORGET HARM REDUCTION, LET'S HAVE DOPE REDUCTION INSTEAD

Dr. Anthony Ocana's recent letter to the editor is indicative of the
liberal view of drug addiction in this city by a select list of
special-interest groups that is turning us into a haven for crack
addicts, heroin addicts and other socially destructive behaviours. I
am tired of it.

Firstly, Dr. Ocana should understand that the media are supposed to
provide a balanced view of issues. I guess editorialists are now no
longer allowed to express opinions in Vancouver, in particular around
socially critical issues like drugs because we wouldn't want to upset
people like him.

I always find the so called expert's choice of the words "harm
reduction" pathetic when it comes to these programs. Harm reduction?
How about some dope reduction!

Secondly, I thank him for his explanation of "fundamentals of
neurobiology" for those of us who "don't understand addiction" .
Sounds like all of us in this town are stupid and Dr. Ocana has all
the answers. Every time someone criticizes or has an opposing view of
Insite or any of the other drug/ alcohol related harm-reduction
programs in town we get branded as unaware, ignorant or need to be
better educated on drug/alcohol addiction by people like him.

Frankly, I can do without Dr. Ocana's form of education. We have
ideas and solutions, but, suggesting anything that isn't providing a
place to shoot up, provide a crack pipe, free alcohol or explain how
it's better to snort heroin instead of injecting it is likely going
to be viewed as a suggestion from the "uninformed."

Finally, I find his comparison of a cancer patient to a drug addict
an insult. How can he conclude a child with any form of cancer is no
different from some crack addict?

Our city and provincial leaders need to start listening to the silent
majority. I am sick of the drugs, their effects and the direction the
city is taking relative to their bogus harm-reduction programs. Harm
reduction is some theorist's view of a utopian response to people who
simply don't want to be responsible for their actions.

G. Phillip Braun,

Vancouver