Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 Source: Victoria News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Black Press Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wOQxPi2c Website: http://www.vicnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267 Author: Roel Hurkens VICTORIA MUST STOP ENABLING DRUG ADDICTS Re: City backs plan to distribute crack-pipe gear (News, July 15) Kudos to Victoria city councillor Geoff Young for being willing to stand up against the distribution of crack-pipe gear to addicts. On the other side, the crack dealers are no doubt celebrating this move by the city. In June 2008, a city report indicated the average drug addict was committing annual crimes of about $350,000 in value in order to feed his drug habit. Multiply that by the number of addicts, and the figure is truly staggering in terms of costs to society. Why is the city then enabling their drug habits, and so perpetuating the crime spree? Why give ammunition to defence lawyers who will try to get their drug-dealer clients off by showing that the city supports their activity? Stop enabling the drug addicts. So what if drug addicts have some finger and lip burns or cuts - it is a result of their choice of lifestyle. As for "hepatitis C and other communicable diseases" maybe that is just natural selection taking place in this group of addicts. Roel Hurkens Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr