WE DON'T NEED MORE TREATMENT BEDS

Editor, the News:

Re: We need more treatment centres (Letters, Nov. 2).

I don't think we need more drug treatment centres, or even detox beds.
There are enough already.

Loring Anderson might be a former addict, but he should have noticed
during his own fight with addiction that many addicts have entered
these places, many several times over, and still continue to use.

There is only so much treatment centres and their counsellors can do.
Somewhere the addicts needs to take responsibility for themselves and
stick to programs like alcoholics anonymous 24/7and for the rest of
their lives.

I had the misfortune of spending some time myself in such places due
to an iotragenic dependency and was shocked to see my roommates using
the facility as a revolving door.

Some smuggled dope in through the windows. I wondered why in God's
name they were there to begin with when they had no intention to be
serious about their problem?

I have made friends in the addiction world and I see the hard work
they go through to stay clean, but they do it, and good for them. I
feel sorry for those who fail, over and over again, but don't blame
society for not helping them.

The only thing left to do for those people is to provide them with
what their addiction demands in the hope they don't have to steal,
cheat or kill others to get to their drug of choice.

Madelon Albulet

Maple Ridge