Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jun 2005
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Tim Meehan
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n978/a08.html

LET'S HELP INMATES TO HEAL

Drugs - Re: "Needles like arming inmates," Editorial, June 17.

To the contrary, the prison is the perfect place for a prescribed drug harm
reduction area.

The NAOMI project in Vancouver has shown that for a very small few who can
meet the study's criteria, it works well.

European experience shows that heroin maintenance and other programs such as
methadone maintenance get junkies clean.

A person in prison is damaged, and more moralizing will simply not work.
Healing should be the top priority, and these programs are very important in
reintegrating a person into society -- without an addictive drug habit.

Tim Meehan,

Ottawa, Ont.
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MAP posted-by: Josh