THE MEAN STREETS OF VICTORIA

Re: Disgusted In Victoria, Brian Hutchinson, Sept. 1.

While I would like to refrain from using the disrespectful term of
"disgust," I am rather appalled by Brian Hutchinson's portrayal of
"human misery" in downtown Victoria. The principal point I take
fundamental issue with in his expose is that his disgust takes aim at
"junkies, panhandlers and drunks" forming part of Victoria city life.
While perhaps not pleasant to look at, Mr. Hutchinson is referring to
human beings that are legitimate members of the urban community.

By and large, these are not malicious deviants or misfits of their own
volition, yet rather very sad examples of our ineffective social and
health policies. The majority of drug addicts and homeless people on
Victoria's streets suffer from undiagnosed or untreated mental
illness, and most wish their main remedy did not have to be a dose of
crack or heroin injected in an alleyway.

So when tourists and other respectful people come to visit Victoria,
what they observe is an authentic testimony of the shadows and
shortcomings of current Canadian urban society

I agree we should seek to improve Victoria's urban landscape. However,
this improvement should not primarily be for the sake of tourists but
for those who bear the misery of drug addictions, homelessness and
mental illness. Overdue changes to social and health programs will
take sincere and concerted efforts. We must also dispense with the
belief that we can "criminalize" the described problems away.

I wish Mr. Hutchinson would focus his journalistic energy on
supporting these endeavours rather than fuelling social stereotypes
and divides that will hinder them.

BENEDIKT FISCHER

professor and director, Illicit Drugs, Public Health
and Policy Unit

Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia,

University of Victoria.