SAFE INJECTION SITES POKED

Editor;
Re: Victoria next to get a shoot-up sight (Peace Arch News, June 8)

Tom Fletcher has the wrong end of the needle when he talks about safe
injection sites.

I know they are designed to make it safer for the junkie to shoot up,
but I don't believe this is their real purpose. This site got going
because of public pressure to get junkies off the streets and into a
controlled environment where it would be safer for them to harm
themselves. I don't think they have gone far enough to accomplish
their real objective (stated or not), which is to make streets appear
safer to the public.

The fact junkies bring in their own poison is ridiculous. We still
have dealers, we still have the crime and prostitution to pay for dope.

The junkie should come in and get clean, free poison from the system.
Let's face it, the monetary cost of heroin at source is miniscule;
the overall cost is incalculable.

Junkies, like all others, make choices and live with them. If you can
convince a junkie to kick the habit, we should support that decision,
but the decision is his.

Unless he wants to, no amount of jaw boning will get that result.

If, on the other hand, he is given free clean drugs he will live
longer, be happier, and be no threat to society.

He won't live that long, it's not in the nature of the path he has chosen.

Laurence Gill

Surrey