Pubdate: Mon, 14 Aug 2000
Source: Border Mail (Australia)
Contact:  http://www.bordermail.com.au/
Author: Charles Stitz

INJECTING ROOMS A FATAL MISTAKE

I RECORD my support for the decision of the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal
Party to oppose the introduction of supervised injecting rooms proposed by
the Bracks Government.

On any issue as agonising as the pointless death from drug overdose of large
numbers of (mostly young) Australians, there would initially appear to be no
room for differing points of view.

However, a substantial proportion of voters of all persuasions is honestly
convinced that facilitating the use of drugs for non-medical purposes is the
wrong way to go.

The Liberal Party believes that it would be a fatal error for society to
give in to this evil, and that the answer lies in continued opposition to
the drug trade, supported by a range of additional measures, such as:

* More and better education of young people on the issue;

* More resources allocated to law enforcement; and,

* Harsher penalties.

I urge readers to stand up for what is clearly right, and to continue the
battle against drug use in any way they can.

The answer to this problem lies not in making it easier to use drugs, but in
a cultural shift which convinces young people that recreational drug use is
dangerous and wasteful.

Charles Stitz, Branch president, Liberal Party, Wodonga
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