Pubdate: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 Source: Mission City Record (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 The Mission City Record Contact: http://www.missioncityrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305 Author: Jenny Stevens Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) ADAMS SHOULD BE MORE UNDERSTANDING Editor, The Record: At the All Candidates meeting held on Sept. 18, Dave Adams included the remark "And now we have a methadone clinic" in his list of complaints about the current state of the downtown core. A qualified pharmacist is filling prescriptions ordered by qualified physicians. Neither a pharmacist nor any other person has the right to countermand a physician's choice of medication for his patient. To represent a pharmacist's performance of his bounded duty as running "methadone clinic" is an inflammatory distortion of the facts. Yes, drug dealers are criminals who should be hunted down and punished, particularly those who deliberately target our youngsters. Drug users though are victims of those criminals. They have at least recognized their need for help and should be encouraged not vilified. Dave, it is distressing to hear you, a respected downtown businessman demonstrate such a lack of understanding of and compassion for these unfortunate individuals. If you have managed to go through life without one of your loved ones becoming caught in the drug net, you should be thanking God for your good fortune. Jenny Stevens, Mission - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl