Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jan 2017
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v17/n022/a07.html
Author: Ernest Tooth
Page: A9

ILLEGAL DRUG USERS AREN'T SO DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF US

Editor:

With regards to the letter on Jan. 10, Chasing drug users a waste of
time: I strongly question the author's assertion that "these
self-inflicted drug users" are using "the greatest amount of our
medical resources."

Surely, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and liver
disease must add up to more.

If you smoke, drink, eat fatty food, consume too much caffeine, too
much salt, too much sugar, or drive a car, I will assert two things:
You could not quit (cold turkey) tomorrow, and you are or will be a
self-inflicted drain on our medical system. Just because someone's
drug of choice isn't a lipid-lowering agent, doesn't make them so
different from the majority of Canadians.

We are a self-destructing society. Everyone is fighting a battle and
finding ways to cope every day. Alienating our brothers and sisters or
mothers and fathers through things like indifference is not how we
heal. Empathy and humility are hard work, but that's because they are
worth it.

Ernest Tooth, Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Matt