Pubdate: Tue, 29 Oct 2002
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: George Pratt

Letter 1 Of 5

NO QUICK FIXES

Some Readers Think Helping Addicts Out Of The Abyss Is Better Than Enabling 
Them To Make Drug Suppliers Rich

Articles in The Sun last week were illuminative on several related points: 
When Vancouver mayoral hopeful Jennifer Clarke was reported as describing 
the Vancouver police department as dysfunctional, the term seemed a might 
strong; however, the pronouncements of Sergeant Al Arsenault illustrate Ms. 
Clarke's point. One wonders if the good sergeant wouldn't be of more 
service to the city in the traffic division, or perhaps at the jail.

Richard Patton follows with a truly insightful essay about the condition of 
the Downtown Eastside (The richest neighbourhood in town, Insight, Oct. 26).

I beg to continue the thread with the following: We have chosen to consign 
the production and marketing of narcotics to the global underworld. As long 
as we continue to do so, the ravages visited on all of us by the world of 
drugs will not ameliorate in any city no matter what remedial schemes we 
concoct. Indeed, it will worsen.

George Pratt

Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Beth