News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: LTE: Safe Injection Issue Beyond Garr's Grasp |
| Title: | CN BC: LTE: Safe Injection Issue Beyond Garr's Grasp |
| Published On: | 2002-05-13 |
| Source: | Vancouver Courier (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 07:56:29 |
SAFE INJECTION ISSUE BEYOND GARR'S GRASP
To the editor:
Allen Garr wrote an article casting Jennifer Clarke in the role of a
throwback to times gone by ("Clarke's drug views belong in the archives,"
April 24). To elect her as our new mayor, he intimates, would be to go back
15 years in time, while the world is moving forward in its ever so
effective and enlightened "treatment" of drug addicts.
Apparently Garr has no concept of the word "treatment" when he states that
safe shooting is part of any treatment program. That's about as sensible as
saying, "We're going to help you get off drugs by showing you how to stay
on drugs safely." Or, perhaps, "We're going to help you develop a clean and
healthy relationship with your heroin addiction to enable you to enjoy your
lifestyle as long as possible."
Reaching a new low, Garr decided to write an article from a preconceived
point of view before fitting the story pieces together, which is not worthy
of your newspaper. His unprofessional cheap shots take second place only to
his misstatements regarding the independence of the NPA and the "influence"
exerted over it by Garr's imaginary controllers.
He knows his claim to be patently untrue.
If Clarke said that Owen's drug policy was a "good conceptual framework,"
as Garr claims, in all likelihood it wasn't "faint praise," but rather a
statement about Owen's first step, upon which Clarke will make improvements.
It remains to be seen if Garr's statement that the world has passed Clarke
by will be found to be accurate. It is simply not true that "the world" has
adopted safe fixing programs that are solving their problems. That's false
information. Clarke may be pointing us along a more well-thought-out path
with checkpoints, road signs and criteria for evaluation of success and
failure, both with consequences.
It appears that Garr is beyond his depth as he first draws conclusions then
follows with a rationalization of a complex topic that requires much study
and assessment beyond his demonstrated capability and grasp.
Jamie Smith, Vancouver
To the editor:
Allen Garr wrote an article casting Jennifer Clarke in the role of a
throwback to times gone by ("Clarke's drug views belong in the archives,"
April 24). To elect her as our new mayor, he intimates, would be to go back
15 years in time, while the world is moving forward in its ever so
effective and enlightened "treatment" of drug addicts.
Apparently Garr has no concept of the word "treatment" when he states that
safe shooting is part of any treatment program. That's about as sensible as
saying, "We're going to help you get off drugs by showing you how to stay
on drugs safely." Or, perhaps, "We're going to help you develop a clean and
healthy relationship with your heroin addiction to enable you to enjoy your
lifestyle as long as possible."
Reaching a new low, Garr decided to write an article from a preconceived
point of view before fitting the story pieces together, which is not worthy
of your newspaper. His unprofessional cheap shots take second place only to
his misstatements regarding the independence of the NPA and the "influence"
exerted over it by Garr's imaginary controllers.
He knows his claim to be patently untrue.
If Clarke said that Owen's drug policy was a "good conceptual framework,"
as Garr claims, in all likelihood it wasn't "faint praise," but rather a
statement about Owen's first step, upon which Clarke will make improvements.
It remains to be seen if Garr's statement that the world has passed Clarke
by will be found to be accurate. It is simply not true that "the world" has
adopted safe fixing programs that are solving their problems. That's false
information. Clarke may be pointing us along a more well-thought-out path
with checkpoints, road signs and criteria for evaluation of success and
failure, both with consequences.
It appears that Garr is beyond his depth as he first draws conclusions then
follows with a rationalization of a complex topic that requires much study
and assessment beyond his demonstrated capability and grasp.
Jamie Smith, Vancouver
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