To the Editor,
Re: Short-sighted view on harm reduction plan not beneficial, Letters, Oct. 8.
How does an RN condone the use of illegal drugs? The key statement is that it does not reduce the numbers of drug abusers. Counselling is available with or without safe injection sites.
We do not need to be distributing needles as this is not a substitute for counselling. I agree that there is some harm reduction by these two actions, but there is no reduction of the drug community.
By confusing the social issue of the homeless, drug addicts and mentally disturbed individuals, many positive counselling programs are only giving minimal results.
This is in no way a reflection on the workers doing counselling, but the money spent on abetting drug users would be better spent on counselling and self-help programs.
J. Sharpe
Nanaimo