DRUG ADDICTION A SYMPTOM

Editor: I wish to reply to Cindy Van Beek's letter which appeared in the
May 19 Times, regarding your article on homelessness.

I truly feel for Ms. Van Beek, not because I agree with her views, but
rather because it must take an incredible amount of energy to harbour so
much hatred towards those whom she knows nothing about. I would also hope
that other readers don't judge her too harshly for her comments, as they
are obviously penned in ignorance.

Anyone who has had any personal experience with drug addiction, either
through friends or family members, or has ever educated themselves with
available materials regarding drug addiction would never express such harsh
views. Drug addiction is not the problem; it is a symptom of a problem.

These kids did not just wake up one morning and say: "Gee whiz, I think
I'll go out today and get addicted to crystal meth, be ostracized by
society and ruin my life." Drugs are merely used as a medication of choice
to deal with deep, underlying problems.

To simply say "Suck it up or get out of my town" is to ignore that there is
a responsibility on us as a society to do all we can to help these
individuals who are at an unfortunate juncture in their young lives.

If Ms. Van Beek wishes to open her mind, I would be glad to offer her my
copy of the National Film Board's "Through A Blue Lens", which I recommend
to anyone with teenage and pre-teenage children. If she were to watch this
documentary with an open mind, she would most certainly rethink what she wrote.

Noel Gulbransen, Langley