CUT DOWN INCIDENCE OF HIV, HEPATITIS

In a recent editorial Mr. Kindred expressed concern about plans to create
"safe use sites" for drug users. Kindred argues that addiction results from
"life style choices' and that there is no reason why we should cater to the
addict.

So what? It's a fluke of history that cigarettes are legal and heroine is
not. It would be extraordinarily difficult to find a single drug which is
harmful to the user and his society that nicotine.

The government in recognition of that fact, has chosen a concert of
strategies designed to reduce the number of smokers in the population. The
grim reaper is, of course, doing his part. The model might be called a harm
reduction approach, we make it more difficult for people to smoke, provide
assistance to those who wish to quit and we educate the young potential smoker.

If this approach works, and there is evidence it is working, it is because
it wastes no time and energy in making and acting on moral judgments.

In case Kindred hasn't noticed, the world is presently caught up in the
throes of a pandemic of historic proportions. In North America dirty
needles are a major source of HIV and hepatitis infection. HIV is extremely
expensive to treat.

So cut down the incidence of HIV infection and you save a lot of money, you
eliminate a great deal of misery, and develop a working relationship with
the addict that makes him more amenable to treatment. It's that simple, it
really is. Injection sites will save money and, if you care, lives .

Dick Easton, Fort Saskatchewan