Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Authors: Vanessa Jackson, Jack Harrison, Debbie Holmes, Pat Lehman, M. Wilson HERE'S WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT: HEALTH AUTHORITY'S PLAN TO PROVIDE SAFE INHALING MATERIALS TO DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE CRACK SMOKERS As a person who has worked in the Downtown Eastside for nine years, I've watched millions of dollars in grants and funding pour into the social agencies in this depressed area. By the time it gets through administration costs, very little gets to the street. Social agencies don't fight for facilities for treatment. If they reduce the drug problem, their funding would dry up. I agree with Dr. Stanley de Vlaming. When is Vancouver Coastal Health Authority going to open its eyes and fight for treatment instead of helping to expand the drug problem? Vanessa Jackson, Vancouver ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I don't agree with helping drug addicts get high. It'll just encourage more addicts to come here. Back in the 1930s, when England tried a similar thing, all the city's drug addicts left Vancouver to go there. God only knows how many addicts will return. Jack Harrison, Richmond ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's ridiculous to enable drug addicts. They should put every penny into rehabilitation and more beds. Debbie Holmes, North Delta ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I agree with Dr. de Vlaming. Harm reduction means nothing more than facilitating continued addiction, normalizing a very unhealthy lifestyle. What message is this sending to our youth? The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority should be focusing on treatment. Drugs are harmful. Period. Pat Lehman, Richmond ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm on the methadone program and I do not agree with aiding addiction. Even the methadone program is sort of bad, too. The best thing is abstinence. That's the only thing. Making it easier for addicts will just get more people into it. M. Wilson, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens