Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2002
Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA)
Copyright: 2002 San Francisco Examiner
Contact:  http://www.examiner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/389
Author: Arthur Evans
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n203/a06.html

NO TEMPORARY ADDICTION

SISTER Bernie Galvin, of Religious Witness with Homeless People, objects to 
using mostly vouchers, instead of cash, in providing welfare payments to 
the homeless ("Newsom: No More Homeless Drug Money," The Examiner, Feb. 6).

No surprise there. But the remarkable thing is her cavalier attitude toward 
drug addiction. Says Galvin: "People living lives of misery can easily fall 
into seeking temporary relief."

There's nothing temporary or relief-giving about being a heroin addict. To 
pretend otherwise is to become a codependent, adding momentum to the addiction.

Sad to say, that's what many of the city's so-called homeless advocates 
have become, codependents. Their shortsightedness is hurting both addicts 
and the larger community.

Arthur Evans, The City
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D