CANADA IS WRONG TO OFFER HEROIN TO ADDICTS

Re: Addicts may get safe sites to inject, Oct. 5.

Providing heroin to drug addicts is illegal, but our federal health
minister, Allan Rock, has a plan to use a loophole do so anyway. The Office
of Canada's Drug Strategy, led by Acting Director Catherine Airth, is
providing the means to implement this shocking plan.

Compassion might be their mantra, but human beings know that heroin only
hurts. Health care costs are already high. With a slowing economy and
already-high taxes, we can't afford the high costs of buying heroin.

Far from benefiting addicts, free injections of heroin ruin their lives,
the lives of those who love them, and the peace of citizens living near them.

Addicts want to break the habit. This policy would destroy their hope for
recovery.

Providing heroin to addicts is rejected by the Palermo Declaration, to
which Canada is a signatory. Such a move would substantially increase the
number of addicts. The examples of Holland, Sweden and Australia have shown
this.

Deterrent regulations, sound public education and enforcement are the
answer to the heroin problem. I hope Canadians tell our federal minister of
health that giving and taking heroin is illegal, and must stay that way.

Peter Bradley,

Ottawa