Pubdate: Wed, 24 Oct 2001
Source: Burlington Post (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001 Burlington Post
Contact:  http://www.burlingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1827/a02.html

DIABETIC 'INFURIATED' BY FREE NEEDLE PROGRAM

I was reading the article: Health committee wants needle exchange 
program to continue (Oct. 21, The Post) and I must say it absolutely 
infuriates me.

You see I am an insulin-dependent diabetic who must have needles 
everyday just so I can live.

Although I have searched everywhere, nowhere can I find a needle 
exchange for diabetics.

I must buy them myself, which, along with all the other medication I 
require, is quite costly. I will gladly exchange my old needles for 
new ones free of charge.

Although I am not addicted and would gladly quit use of my legal 
drugs, I can't. I must continue to live.

And just let me get this straight, not only am I buying my own 
needles but also my tax dollars are purchasing these needles for the 
drug users. Yeah!

What a great society it is that the concern is more to help these 
drug users/addicts rather than whether or not a diabetic can afford 
needles. How fair is it that illegal drug users get free needles 
while I must continue to buy mine?

One last question. If the drug users can afford the drugs, why not 
the needles? I didn't ask for this illness but these drug users knew 
exactly what they were getting into.

So, I anxiously wait for the government to come up with a diabetic 
needle exchange. I'm sure that quite a few taxpayers would agree that 
this would be a better use of their tax dollars.

Shannon Gallagher , Burlington
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MAP posted-by: Josh