Pubdate: Thu, 23 Nov 2006
Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Burnaby Newsleader
Contact:  http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315
Author: Tom Fletcher
Note: Tom Fletcher is B.C. bureau reporter for Black Press newspapers.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

FOUR PILLAR FAILURE

Regular readers will know what I think of pretend  "needle exchange" 
programs where dirty needles are  thrown on the street, or unsafe 
"safe injection sites"  where dirty street junk is injected with 
nursing  supervision. The whole thing in Vancouver looks like a 
government agency set up to work in conjunction with  the heroin and 
cocaine dealers who control the street  outside.

The prescription heroin trial that's currently going on in Vancouver 
offers more potential, at least for a few hardcore addicts who don't 
respond to methadone treatment. This type of program is the closest 
this country is going to get to legalization in the near future, and 
it can be done without the national and international political 
backlash that would kill a bolder program.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman