Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n012/a09.html Author: George Kosinski POOR COMPARISON In her letter criticizing the distribution of free crack-pipe mouthpieces to addicts, Debbie McKinnon asked if the government will hand out free beer next. This illustrates how drug hysteria can damage our ability to reason logically. She emphasizes the high cost of treating hepatitis C, while at the same time condemning a policy that is guaranteed to reduce the incidence of that disease. A more appropriate beer analogy would entail distributing free glasses, not free beer -- not to mention that beer drinking has no connection with the spread of communicable diseases. George Kosinski, Gibsons - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake