Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2001
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Gertie Pool

DRUGS ARE EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM

Editor, The News:

Regarding Chris Buors' letter "Drug use is not a crime" (The News,
June 2): It is full of unsound reasonings. The somewhat odd
explanations do evade issues of social responsibilities and treatments.

His statement, "Far from our drugs controlling us, by and large we
control our drugs" fails to stand the light of truth. Just a stroll
down Vancouver's east side proves exactly the opposite truth. It is
the saddest thing to watch people's lives destroyed in a hopeless heap
of misery due to uncontrolled drug addictions.

Buors, do you ever think about what happens to these people? How they
eat, clean, dress and where they sleep at night? Or what happens to
their inner being?

You must admit that most of this agony is created by mind-altering
drug abuses.

Wake up, Chris. Broaden your horizons and see the reality of it all.
Studies show that 85 per cent of all crimes today are connected with
drugs one way or another as opposed to 15 per cent some 30 years ago.

In simple English, these are called the social ills in society.
Experts advise that for many drug addicts it is drugs first, then
breathing, then food - in that order.

Healthy living comes in the form of a disciplined lifestyle and
choices made by each human being. Drug addiction, when left
unchallenged, creates insurmountable personal agony, premature deaths
and moral free fall in society.

Life, in a nutshell, is all about " faith, hope and love" - in and for
humanity. Most of us do care very much about the social ills in
society and the welfare of other human beings today. So, we'll just
keep plugging away as best we can to lend a helping hand to those
stumbling along the way.

Gertie Pool, Abbotsford
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