Pubdate: Sun, 26 May 2002
Source: Burlington Free Press (VT)
Copyright: 2002 Burlington Free Press
Contact:  http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/632
Author: Jim Burbo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

CURES MAKE SENSE

Just a minute. Let me see if I understand this. Because some people are 
stupid or weak-kneed enough to get themselves addicted to heroin, and to 
get un-addicted causes a certain amount of pain and suffering which they 
are unwilling to undergo, then according to the recent editorial, (Free 
Press, May 16) we the taxpayers of Vermont should spend a large amount of 
money to give these hop-heads methadone for the rest of their lives.

Not that this is a cure for their addiction, but just a substitute drug, 
perhaps a little cheaper, but they stay addicted.

My late Venezuelan father-in-law had a succinct phrase for this type of 
thinking -- "caca del toro" -- in English, "B.S."

Now, if the Free Press were advocating a program to cure the heroin 
addiction, it might make a lot more sense.

Jim Burbo

Hinesburg
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MAP posted-by: Alex