8 - Sunday, October 32, 1997 — North Shore News Dear Editor: Re: Leo Knight’s column Oct. 3 “Dopey Solution to Drug Problem” column. Firstly, it is the easiest thing in the world to criti- cize something or someone. An intelligent treatment of the topic, conveying your own thoughtful ideas and possit‘e solution: is not for the cowardly. If you think Vasicouver-East MP Libby Davies suggestion of a safe house for heroin addiction, is “dopey,” then I suggest you provide some alternative plan instead of devoting a whole article to banter. Pm sorry that decriminalization of heroin is “an old tired argument” for you; however, there has not been an effective attempt in Canada, to control, rcha- bilitate and discourage drug use in a comprehensive program. Criminalization of heroin doesn’t work. Money is spent on band-aid ad campaigns and small portions of budgets are devoted to the treatment of addiction to illegal drugs. I'm not suggesting full legalization of drugs to support an “alternative life style,” but perhaps to learn from others who are trying to address the prob- North Shore needs local transit control north shore news MALL BOX lem, or develop programs to control the negative effects on society of drug abuse. You are right and wrong: drug abuse is an indi- vidual responsibility, but it is also a societal responsi- bility as well. You’re right — no one forced that nee- dle into the junkie’s arm. However, the fact remains ~~ there are still junkies supporting their $500 to $1,000. per day habit, 365 days a year, year after year. So as a society what do we do about it? The cost to society is horrendous and unaccept- able. Property crime committed by junkies is estimat- ed at over $300 million per year (Vancouver Police statistic). I suggest this is conservative, when you consider indirect costs —— increase in insurance premiums, legal and court costs, lost days of work for the victims of property crime, intrusion anxiety, etc. To simply condemn Davies’ “safe house” idea as lunacy, or biame the junkie for sticking a needle in their arm is uphoiding the status quo. J quote Mr Knight, “How will Davies’ controlled “hit a day” lunacy deal with those people (drug addicts): They will sall rob, cheat and steal to get the ght’s views extra drugs they need.” Your comment is off the mark. I draw your atten- tion to the results of a three-year Swiss study (1993- 1996) experimenting with state distribution of hero- in to addicts. The results were: ® significant improvements can be obtained in terms of health and lifestyle, and these persist even after the end of treatment; © a significant decline of criminal activities; ® economic benefit of heroin-assisted treatment is considerable, particularly due to the reduction in the cost of criminal procedures and imprisonment and in terms of disease treatment. Now, we can criticize this study as an isolated case, or unique to the particulars of the Swiss society, or continue the hypocrisy of finger-pointing. The mere thought of considering such an alternative angle of the problem of heroin addiction is too much for our society, What are you smoking, Leo? Brett Humphreys North Vancouver (vwest@direct.ca) deliberately scuttled bus ser- vice to UBC, in order to create a pretext to cancel it. Councillor Ernie Crist’s for North Dear Editor: Your editorial. “Bus Stopped” hits the nail on the head when it characterizes the cancellation of the No. 286 express service from North Vancouver to UBC as an “affront” to commuters. You cite the conclusion drawn by BC Transit from its ridership “studies” that the route was not worth keeping. What effrontery! T rade that bus for years; I boarded it at 7:25 or 8:25 in the morning on Highland below Monsroyal and consid- ered myself lucky if I found a window seat; by the time it reached Edgemont village it was nearly full, and students who boarded it on Marine Drive had, as a rule, to travel standing. There were days when the bus was so packed that we wished for extra ser- vice. Instead of improving, ser- vice began to deteriorate in 1995. When the school year 1996-97 rolled along the situ- ation became catastrophic. Buses running as much as half an hour behind schedule, Turn over a new leaf this fall with tastefully decorative draperies and co- ordinated bedding 2 for your home. ¥\(at prices to entice) 25% OFF Herry sale ends Oct. 31/97 Plus All Window Coverings 50% off cov grings for over 10 years ind Capilano Met Specializing.in window Located be Sugg. retail A917 -- 949 W.3rd. St N: Van or not showing up ar all, became a daily occurrence. Commuters were never informed in advance. I took to phoning the North Vancouver depot before leaving home in the morning and on more than one occasion was misinformed. We, the users, were in a constant state of apprehension and stress. Many took to dri- ving. Transit bureaucrats, who hypocritically call on people to “go green,” while they ride luxurious cars (at whose expense?), blamed bus drivers or chkimed that they were short of buses. Rather it seems that they proposition Vancouver District to create its own transit commission or join that of West Vancouver is sound; it would give users a say in the running and develop- ment of a sensible and ade- quate transportation system. R. Goldman North Vancouver Many mall questions; no answe Dear Editor: According te Lar@§ vice-president, tlic Royal expansion will § ahead, in spite of 10, ignatures and the prot, 700 people at a pul meeting held on Sept. 2 The Squamish Nay has approved the proj and legally that’s all tha needed. West Vanco can refuse changes Marine Drive, and certa refuse the use of Po Road, which is Ambleside Park. Howe part § West Vancouver has no § over the planned constr¢ tion on the site. Where will traffic What will happen to s businesses? Will. Squamish . Nation another bridge across Capilano River to allow increased traffic on . thy south side? 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