Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n417/a03.html Author: Melissa Coleman A TWO-PER-CENT PROBLEM Police and community activists report that 5,000 to 6,000 needles are discarded improperly around Ottawa. That is two per cent of the 300,000 distributed through the harm reduction programs -- even less if we add needles purchased locally. More that 98 per cent are handled properly with the efforts of community agencies and pharmacies. Focusing on this tiny problem with the harm reduction programs takes the public's attention away from the good that is being done. Prevention programs to educate young people about the dangers of experimenting with drugs and treatment of addicts before their health and lives are destroyed are more constructive to decreasing Ottawa's drug problem. Melissa Coleman, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom