Pubdate: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Irene Abramyk 'SICKENED' BY HER VISIT TO DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE Last week, I had to drive into the downtown Vancouver area along Hastings Street and was sickened by what I saw. I was born and raised in Vancouver, but haven't been in this area for years. Starting at Clark Drive all the way along Hastings, it was just terrible. People were lying on the sidewalks wrapped in blankets or old clothing. Sick and drug-addicted people were sitting on the steps of buildings with garbage all over the place and drug deals being made right in the open. How can the politicians and we, the people of Vancouver, let this go on? We have a serious problem here, with so many mentally sick people who need help. The government closed Riverview Hospital, and most of those people were turned out on to the streets. They are forced to panhandle to exist, or else are taken advantage of by drug-dealing parasites. The homeless people in Vancouver and surrounding areas need medical treatment, housing and drug and alcohol-detox centres. Safe-injection sites where people can shoot up safely are not the answer. You have to go further with programs that gradually help wean people off alcohol and drugs so they can have a life again. We have been blessed with living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And we, and the people who visit here, should not have to be accosted by panhandlers everywhere we go. We have had enough research into the problems. If we can afford all these millions of dollars for the 2010 Olympics, surely we can spare a few million for those who need help most. Irene Abramyk, Coquitlam - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine