HEALING THE SICKNESS

Vancouver -- I disagree with some, but not all, of what Paul Sullivan has
to say in An Epidemic Of Social Conscience (Nov. 13).

Although heroin addicts make up only 5,000 of Vancouver's two million
inhabitants, seeing many of them on the streets of Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside is more than distressing. I have never seen anything that comes
close to the wretchedness of these streets; not in Toronto or New York or
even in a Third World country like Mexico.

Yes, the fate of these people and their neighbourhood is currently more
important to many Vancouverites than taxes or traffic.

However, I agree with Mr. Sullivan that to heal these people will require
much more than just safe injection sites. Detox centres must be part of the
plan.

However, we have to start somewhere and people's attention must be focused
on healing this sickness, which taints the whole city. Whether it be a
provincial or federal matter, nothing will be done until Vancouverites
shine a spotlight on the problem.

Lorne Berkovitz