DRUG STUDIES IGNORED

Re: Syringe drop boxes offer proof people who use drugs take needle
safety seriously while still being shunned by society. ("When it
comes to intravenous drugs, both in the sheer number of users and who
the addicts are, it seems Calgary has a lot to learn," Michael Platt,
April 13.)

Calgary being Stephen Harper's home, it is no surprise there is an
ideologically driven way of doing things. Sadly, the city and
provincial governments have no interest in the solid facts. The same
can be said for our current federal government. The local media have
to shoulder some blame as well. All too often, government ideology is
what is published by the media while drug studies are ignored. There
are a few brave journalists willing to risk writing the solid
truthful facts , but just not enough of them and for understandable
reasons. It is the nasty stigma surrounding illegal drugs and the
lack of same for the lethal legal drug alcohol.

Keith Fagin

(Platt's column was a eyeopener.)