Pubdate: Fri, 29 Aug 2003
Source: Surrey Now (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc., A Canwest Company
Contact:  http://www.thenownewspaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462
Author: Christine Eden

LISTEN TO ADDICTS TO SOLVE DRUG PROBLEM

The Editor,

Re: "Mayor ups crackdown," the Now, Aug. 23.

While I applaud any attempts to crack down on the drug and prostitution
crisis in Whalley, I agree that what is happening is a waste of time and
money. The problem will not go away until such time as it is addressed in
the correct forum. For me, that would be to take drug use and addiction from
the criminal system and make it a medical issue, which it is. This would
free up big dollars for both the RCMP and the medical system. We could look
at treatment and prevention with the money we saved. Just the paper work
alone for our RCMP to take one addict to court is costly. If we had the
proper facilities to detox these individuals and treat their addiction, then
our community would be safer. No addict wants to be an addict. They want to
be free of this devil on their shoulder, but when the desire to do this
finally comes, the beds they need are not there.

Surrey has a huge community of addicts in recovery who are never heard from.
They have lots to say but no one in the government listens. As a counsellor
who works with addicts, I hear tons of stuff that should be acted upon but
the response from the RCMP is deathly quiet. They don't want to hear from
us.

When I wanted to put a safe in my house, I asked one of my clients (whose
prior job was as a safe cracker) to help me pick it out. Amazingly, she
picked out one that was relatively inexpensive was difficult for her to
open. I saved a few hundred dollars by listening to a professional safe
cracker as opposed to a salesman. We could save thousands if we listened to
those who have been on the streets, recovered and became employable. They
have the answers.

We also need stiffer penalties for dealers. Their fines should at least
cover the cost to society for bringing them to justice. Every cup of coffee,
cigarette, paper filing and wages should be covered by them, not us. Once
you take the financial reward away, then they will think twice.

We need to make Surrey a safe place for our children, and our slogan should
not be, "Surrey, city of parks," but "Surrey, drug free and safe."

Christine Eden
Surrey
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MAP posted-by: Josh