EX-ADDICTS HAVE ANSWERS

I'm responding to Alan Ferguson's column about crystal meth.

Until we have treatment on demand for addicts, we shouldn't be spending
taxpayers' money on enablers for addicts such as safe-injection sites.

I think politicians wouldn't be so afraid to raise the topic of crystal
meth if there seemed to be a solution to the problem.

Throwing money at a problem that has no definitive solution is a risky
political move.

Someone has to come up with a unique program that deals with the unique
problems of crystal-meth recovery.

The best way would be to talk to some of the many meth addicts that have
successfully stopped using. Ask them what they think helped most in their
treatment.

Sadly, some psychologist or other professional will come up with a program
that probably won't work, and that is where all the money will go.

Barry Joneson,

Burnaby