Pubdate: Tue, 26 Sep 2000
Source: Canberra Chronicle (Australia)
Fax: +61 2 6239 1345
Author: Jonathan Crowley

SOCIETY GONE WRONG

A RESPONSE to Michael Gardener's letter (August 15). It seems to be
one of the greatest shows of ignorance when people ignore the serious
risk of health problems like heroin deaths that are devastating
families world wide.

The real question is what has our society done to have so many people
so miserable with their lives that they resort to drug addiction and
in particular heroin addiction?

May I suggest that the answer to this question can be found in our
failure to protect the values of family, friendship, justice and peace.

May I also suggest that developing more severe penalties for drug
addiction and associated criminal activities is putting the "cart
before the horse".

We need sound research, into the causes of drug addiction together
with the active fostering of family values and the protection of
honesty and truth which our previous generations fought for in the
World Wars and established Australia as a country with values envied
by the rest of the world.

JONATHAN CROWLEY
Chapman
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