Pubdate: Thu, 30 Sep 2004
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Margie Pratt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

WHAT IS FATE OF ADDICTS?

Editor, The News:

I join everyone in celebrating the success of safe injection sites,
and I am most gratified to learn of the number of lives saved because
the necessary help is so immediately available.

But this raises a question: What becomes of these individuals who
overdose on illegal drugs and then have their lives saved through this
immediately available medical intervention?

Do they give up their habit and return to a normal lifestyle to become
contributing member of society?

Or do they continue on the same old treadmill while the rest of us
continue to foot the bill?

If the latter is the case, then I would suggest that, at the very
least, they take their place in the queue with the rest of us who have
life-threatening conditions, but which are not caused by illegal drug
use.

Margie Pratt,

Abbotsford
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MAP posted-by: Derek