Addiction Is Your Choice

I'm writing this in response to Lisa Nagy's letter on Castanet today. I don't believe that people choose to be mentally ill, or have brain tumors, but what I do believe is nobody held that person down and shot the first needle of heroin into their veins. Drug addiction is your own choice. There are lots of warnings out there on how addictive drugs are, and there are lots of rehab centers to help if they wanted it. When they choose to take five dollars to buy drugs over food-that is there choice and I don't feel sorry for them.

I also know for a fact that some (not all) people are on welfare because it's easier than working. I work by Hein Rd. and since the detours I have had to drive down that road everyday. 4 out of 5 working days that I drive down there, I see the same people sitting on the front step smoking, drinking coffee and chatting with neighbors. I wish I could do that everyday instead of making the choice of wanting a better life and getting up in the morning to go to work everyday to support myself. It all comes down to choice!!!

As far as mental illness and physical disabilities, there is lots of support out there for those people as they aren't blamed for their conditions. There are federal and provincial funds that help these people from clothing, to housing, to medication as well as finding work in the same workforce that I'm in. I know this as a fact, my employer pays one physically challenged and one mentally challenged person to come into our work environment and work twice a week. They are paid and they feel great about it. They have also learned better communication skills, life skills and it brings up their confidence. There is help for those who want it and/or need it. Let's stop making excuses, because that's exactly what it is, an excuse to help us feel better for maybe not helping when we should or can.

J. Woodward