Pubdate: Sun, 22 Oct 2000
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Patrick Keith
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1560/a08.html

SOCIAL WORKER SEES DAILY NEED FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGES

Re: "No needle trading" (Editorial, Oct. 16):

I am a graduate of the College of Health and Human Services at SDSU and a 
professional social worker. For 10 years or more, many health care 
professionals have tried to educate policy makers and journalists about 
epidemiology.

I wonder if the author of the editorial has ever sat in the sexually 
transmitted disease center at our Department of Health Services at the 
Rosecrans site? Has he/she ever looked into the waves of daily faces of 
those San Diegans being tested? How many people must die before San Diego 
wakes up?

It is my feeling that perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to 
health services in San Diego was Dr. Bob Ross. I jumped for joy and wanted 
to rent a truck and trailer and a band to drive around San Diego 
celebrating his departure. From opposing needle exchanges to giving away 
the tobacco monies, he did not serve our county well.

Patrick Keith, Imperial Beach
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D