WHY INVITE ANOTHER HIV CRISIS?

Re: PM's Get-Tough-On-Drugs Strategy Praised By Police, Oct. 1.

The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation operates a Vancouver health care centre
for people living with HIV/AIDS -- many of whom have active drug
addictions. The centre also houses one of the two supervised
injection services in Canada.

The peak of the HIV epidemic in the mid-'90s in the Downtown
East-side was brought under control by dramatic harm reduction
measures. Despite this, the Harper government still refuses to
acknowledge even the basic facts: Harm reduction, including
supervised injection services, provides basic infection control and
prevents the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases. By
eliminating harm reduction, the government is inviting another HIV epidemic.

Maxine Davis, executive director

Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancouver.