Pubdate: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Dianne Pearce Page: A15 WRITER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ADDICTION Re: "Best harm reduction is not to take drugs," letter, Sept. 28. My dismay and bewilderment at the lack of knowledge, let alone understanding, of the world of addiction quickly turned to frustration that such a belief system exists in today's society. The author must live in either a bubble or with a closed and unwelcoming mind. There are myriad situations, many of them tragic and unforeseen, where a person first falls prey to drugs, too many to list in this brief response. As for "the people who provide medical attention to those who overdose must be weary of seeing the same people seeking to be saved time after time," while I cannot speak on behalf of these dedicated people, I can say it has been my experience that they are professionals with a sense of humanity and an open, non-judgmental heart. Dianne Pearce Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Matt