Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 The Province Contact: 200 Granville Street, Ste. #1, Vancouver, BC V6C 3N3 Canada Fax: (604) 605-2323 Website: http://www.vancouverprovince.com/ Author: Wayne Leng Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n006/a04.html FAR TOO MANY SHARE APRIL'S FATE As a former resident of Vancouver, I was saddened to hear of April Reoch's death in the Downtown Eastside. I remember her in the Vancouver Police Department's Odd Squad documentary, Through the Blue Lens, and seeing her occasionally on the east side. April's life and death will affect many of us personally, myself included. I lost a close friend to drugs on the east side. She is missing and presumed murdered. That April should be found dead and on Christmas Day will stay in my memory for a long time. April is described as being kind-hearted with an engaging personality. That describes my friend also. It appears that April had attempted to get off of drugs a number of times and was not successful. She joins the ever-growing list of women and men who have died from overdoses or diseases like AIDS, and been murdered or just simply vanished -- as in the case of the 28 missing east side women. Perhaps we should realize that although April made a choice to do a drug for whatever reason, she didn't choose to become addicted and ultimately lose her life. And with the Vancouver police officers honouring April, they also honor our loved ones. Wayne Leng, Los Angeles - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake