FIGHTING DEMONS

The March 27 story about Tanya Grant's ordeal with OxyContin should be
distributed to everyone in the medical, psychological, psychiatric and detox
centres throughout the province. It should also be read by students who are
learning fast about one of the deadliest addictions in the world today.

I am sickened when I read about how many prescriptions have been doled out
in the Cape Breton area, and the professional excuse is that there are more
cases of cancer there than anywhere else.

One day before this informative story was published, we read of Tanya
Grant's ordeal with ex-boyfriend Ronald Turner, a drug addict addicted to
OxyContin who used Tanya as a punching bag and put her not only through a
physical hell, but a psychological nightmare.

The Crown's answer to this act was to ask the judge for a sentence of six
months of house arrest. How can the Crown even entertain house arrest as a
deterrent for this junkie, who also has three past convictions for beating
women? Judge Brian Williston sentenced this maniac to six months and a term
of probation to follow.

I understand what Tanya Grant has been through; 45 years ago, I had to fight
the same demons - different drug, but same result. Good luck, Tanya. After
all you have been through, you are proof that the demons can be fought and
triumphed over.

Eddie Greenfield, Dartmouth