3&8 - Wednesday, December 26, 1984 - North Shore News inquiring reporter by Ellsworth Dickson tis a arguably hypocritical situation that the government is in the business of sell- ing alcohol, an admittedly dangerous drug, not to mention protiting trom tobacco sales, another dangerous drug, while at the same time, users Of other drugs are treated as criminals. Perhaps drug abuse is a medical problem, not a legal one. Today’s question 1s: ‘“‘Should drug users be treated as criminals?” Randy Stroud North Vancouver First oft. Lom glad that heroin has finally been legalized tor medicinal purposes However. | am notin tavor of drug use being legalized | have my doubts that our drux pro blems would be solved by legalization Ann McDonald North Vancouver Pthink it depends ou the drug od think that some soft drugs sucth as mae yuana should be lewalized but | would) be afraid of the oansecquicnses oot Jepathizitg oa dhise sub oats CO edinte as bo believe tas Gatiercrerts lode ovat Norte deus Coat \ ebytthitivge Dan Dawson North Nianecouver | Joe ‘Yuitab re cy ‘\ tase Nooeth None. 175 ATTEMPTS NINETEEN RESIDENTS ot the North Shore took their own lives last vear, according to a Lions Gate Hospital report released Friday. Suicide and attempted suicide is a significant health care issue on the North Shore and those who attempt suicide could benelit: trom. prompt mtersention and follow-up bx omental health protes ssonals such as psychiatric social WOrkKEES That as the recommenda tron of a recently completed lions Grate Hospital report Sutcide and Attempted Suicide on the North Shore (1983) The report, initiated by Dr Paul Termansen, former Cmeft of the Lions Gate Hospital Department of Psychiatry, and funded by a grant trom Lions Gate Medical Research Founda tion, as based on data from the lions Gate Hospital finergency There is an estimated 175 suicide attempts on the North Shore during the course of a year. In both 1982 and 1983, 19 of these attempts ended in death The Lions Gate Hospital report studied 76 suicide al- tempts during 1983 and its findings are consistent with current literature on suicide and with statistics gathered by S.A.F.E.R. (Suicide At- tempt Follow-up Education and Research) which services tour hospitals in Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster and receives ap- proximately 1,200 referrals a year. The report calls tor the developmen of a program to deal with suicide attempters that is suffigently flexible LGH report calls or suicide action DR. PAUL TERMANSON .. initiated report Bathrooms Beautiful Park Royal 9265122 \ ahr hhyge Lansaow ne Maytar 266 BBV) 273 75388 $82 0525, a * ~ = ° ° -_" ‘ = am Prep as, 7. ae