Pubdate: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Fresno Bee Contact: http://www.fresnobee.com/man/opinion/letters.html Website: http://www.fresnobee.com/ Forum: http://www.fresnobee.com/man/projects/webforums/opinion.html Author: Paul H. Betancourt Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1209/a02.html , http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1186/a04.html 'COMPASSION-LITE' Apparently compassion-lite is on its way to Fresno. The Bee appears to be on a new crusade. There have now been two Jim Wasserman columns and two front-page stories on needle exchange programs. If we really care about intravenous drug users, why are we stopping at needle exchange? These people are addicted to life-robbing narcotics. That's their real problem. You say we want to stop the spread of AIDS? I would hope so. AIDS is only one of their problems. How can you say that needle exchange is compassionate? If we really want to help these people, why don't we do the hard work and help them get off the drugs? Needle exchange is compassion-lite. Feels great, less helpful. Paul H. Betancourt, Kerman - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D