ADDICTION PUZZLE NEEDS ACTION

Jody Paterson is right: There's no single solution that can cure all of our
social ills ("One small blunder can set us on the wrong course, Aug. 12).
We do need a broader spectrum of services for the thousands of people in
our community with drug addictions. But we can't wait for all the puzzle
pieces to line up neatly.

When it comes to issues that span jurisdictions, we're seldom handed a
complete solution. And facing a crisis situation, we need to pursue
measures that can make a difference. For those who need our help today, the
wait for a full continuum of services to arrive may be too long.

I give our city council and the Vancouver Island Health Authority credit
for exploring the issue and identifying a range of measures that could
help. Now we need to ensure they take the next step, and act.

Paul Lidgate

Victoria.