Pubdate: Mon, 06 May 2002 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Authors: Alan Randell, Eleanor Randell AN INEFFECTIVE RESPONSE Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall is mistaken if he thinks implementing various harm reduction strategies will have more than a marginal effect on the health of drug users (Letters, April 30). For one thing, young users will still be forced to start out using adulterated drugs until they become sick enough to avail themselves of the limited resources of our health-care system. If harm reduction is all its supporters say it is, why don't we ban alcohol and tobacco and implement safe injection sites and doctor-prescribing strategies for those drugs too? The only way to reduce the harm and heartbreak of illegal drugs is to legalize them. Alan and Eleanor Randell Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens