Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jul 2012
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476

ABBOTSFORD SHOULD HELP ITS DRUG ADDICTS

After at least seven years of sticking its head in the sand, 
Abbotsford council has decided to study whether the community can 
stomach allowing a needle-exchange program to operate in that city. 
The Fraser Health Authority is proposing to phase in such a program 
over several years to improve the health of the several hundred 
injection drug users who call Abbotsford home.

Council, which banned needle exchange programs in 2005, would be wise 
to follow the authority's advice. The programs have proven effective 
at reducing the rate of health problems such as HIV infections that 
are far costlier to taxpayers when drug users share infected needles.

Drug use exists in every city and town of B.C., and all communities 
should help shoulder the burden of caring for, and providing services 
to, people struggling with addiction. For too long, major cities such 
as Vancouver and Surrey have been forced to do more than their fair 
share as addicts from other areas have flowed in to access resources.

All communities need practical solutions to address drug addiction; 
none can afford to ignore the issue.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom