Pubdate: Wed, 21 May 2003 Source: Detroit Free Press (MI) Copyright: 2003 Detroit Free Press Contact: http://www.freep.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125 Author: Abraham Hanna Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n744/a10.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) NEEDLE EXCHANGE SENDS WRONG MESSAGE I can see from Jeff Gerritt's May 19 column ("Needles and Lives") that the Life Points needle exchange program will be saving the county a ton of money -- money that will have to be spent on treating drug-abuse related diseases. It is also sending out a deep subliminal message to the community at large: If you must do drugs, let us help you do it safely. Let me ask this: If you discover that your kids are doing drugs, would you offer them safe needles and cotton balls to at least keep them from contracting and spreading diseases because it is easier on your budget? We need to transform to a higher moral solution. Abraham Hanna Bloomfield Township - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake