Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jul 2000
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Author: Bill Aldcroft
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1005/a11.html

PRISON DRUGS ARE DEADLY WEAPONS

Clive Blennerhassett really has no idea of what it would
be like to work in a Correctional Centre where the Prisoners are
encouraged to use intravenous drugs by handing out needles even in
supervised drug injecting rooms. Not so long ago a custodial officer
was stabbed by an inmate with an HIV infected needle. He subsequently
died of AIDS. To hand over such a deadly weapon to some of our brain
damaged junkies, would be completely irrational and I very much doubt
that anyone would continue to work in a Prison system under such
conditions. For anyone to advocate that prisoners be supplied with
illegal drugs, provide rooms to illegally self administer, or to run a
needle exchange that would encourage the smuggling of contraband drugs
into the prison, under any pretext whatever, is laughable and
unrealistic. It would also be political suicide for any rational
politician to agree to such a proposal.

BILL ALDCROFT,
Dickson
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MAP posted-by: Derek