CANADA'S BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS HEADING IN WRONG DIRECTION

To the Editor,

Re: War on drugs doomed again, Oct 6.

I'd like to give thanks to the Harper government for a new war.

Like in the U.S., where the war on drugs has been ongoing for
decades, this Canadian effort will likely create a few jobs in the
areas of law enforcement.

We will, over the long term, likely need to build more jails (as they
have needed to do in the U.S.) in order to house non-violent
offenders, and our recently announced federal tax surplus will
probably help to pay for this ongoing cost.

Never mind incarceration will cost more than rehabilitation - Mr.
Harper clearly believes the jobs created are more important than the
negative costs to our society.

These fellow Canadians - these neighbours, co-workers, family and
friends of ours - they're only addicts after all, right? Mr. Harper
says we should lock 'em up.

Treatment and rehabilitation sounds too nice for the Harper
government's every man for himself ideology. Although treatment and
rehabilitation are proven to be effective, long term incarceration
sounds braver and more prideful.

I am a recovered addict with seven years clean and sober. I've just
brought my family to Nanaimo and soon we'll be purchasing a house.
After using drugs for nearly a decade, I managed to make it out of
active addiction, disease-free and with no criminal record. This is
largely due to the community support and addiction recovery services
available to me prior to getting clean.

I'm not shy about this fact - I'm proud of the man I am and I'm
grateful to be living in this country with a history of giving and
sharing that shows we take care of ours.

Cameron Wigmore

Nanaimo