Give the drugs to those that use them for free, that would take a few years to work, but it would over time, says letter writer. (Black Press file)

Give the drugs to those that use them for free, that would take a few years to work, but it would over time, says letter writer. (Black Press file)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Providing drugs would curb crime

The war on drugs will never be won the way we are trying to do it

To the editor,

The war on drugs will never be won the way we are trying to do it.

First, get the crime out of it. Give the drugs to those that use them for free, that would take a few years to work, but it would over time. There are some laws that would have to change, but if it was done right, it would work. So let’s give it a try, we have nothing to lose.

The cost of this program could be paid by the money saved by not paying to fight the war on crime.

For those of you that don’t like my idea, it’s a lot better than what we are doing now.

Frank O’Neill, Nanaimo

To the editor,

Is it cause or coincidence that Nanaimo’s drug injection site accompanied a dramatic increase in drug-addled behaviour in and around downtown? Regardless, we shouldn’t overlook the potential benefits addicts offer our community. Their presence just might persuade the RCMP to finally start enforcing traffic regulations.

Otherwise the interaction of reckless Nanaimo drivers with erratic Nanaimo junkies might add another deadly risk to addiction.

Greg Klein, Nanaimo

Nanaimo News Bulletin