Pubdate: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 Date: 10/22/2000 Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA) Author: Patrick Keith Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1560/a08.html Re: "No needle trading" (Editorial, Oct. 16): I am a graduate of the College of Health and Human Services at SDSU and a professional social worker. For 10 years or more, many health care professionals have tried to educate policy makers and journalists about epidemiology. I wonder if the author of the editorial has ever sat in the sexually transmitted disease center at our Department of Health Services at the Rosecrans site? Has he/she ever looked into the waves of daily faces of those San Diegans being tested? How many people must die before San Diego wakes up? It is my feeling that perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to health services in San Diego was Dr. Bob Ross. I jumped for joy and wanted to rent a truck and trailer and a band to drive around San Diego celebrating his departure. From opposing needle exchanges to giving away the tobacco monies, he did not serve our county well. Patrick Keith, Imperial Beach