Pubdate: Fri, 08 Sep 2000 Source: Canberra Times (Australia) Copyright: 2000 Canberra Times Contact: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/ Author: Jane Craig DRUGS REPORTING IRRESPONSIBLE POOR Chief Justice Jeffrey Miles (CT, September 6, p.1) needs a spell away from the Bench I think, because his view of the world outside the courtroom is incorrect. His claim that ". . . heroin is in widespread use in the community . . ." is not true. From ACT Drug Trends 1999, published by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, I quote: ""The 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, which included a random sample of just under 1200 ACT residents over the age of 14, found that almost 2 per cent had used heroin at least once, and 0.4 per cent had used it in the 12 months prior to the interview." Granted, heroin use is higher in the 14-24 age group: in ACT Drug Trends 1999 it is stated, "1.2 per cent of respondents in this age range had used heroin in the 12 months prior to the survey." These are not very high percentages! We all know that people are more likely to do something if they think everyone else is doing it. It was irresponsible of Chief Justice Miles to make this wild statement but at least only a few people heard him. It was irresponsible of The Canberra Times to give it any coverage at all, let alone on the front page with a large headline. JANE CRAIG, Macgregor - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck