Pubdate: Tue, 12 Dec 2000
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: News Limited 2000
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Author: Dean R. Dowling
Note: Headline supplied by newshawk

PURE HEROIN IS SAFE

THE opiates, cannabis and heroin, if pure, are safe and gentle drugs
(heroin was used in childbirth before its ban in the 1950s), with
little hangover; they are non-toxic producing passive peaceful behaviour.

Alcohol, even if pure, is toxic and causes irreversible permanent
brain and body damage (of liver, heart, pancreas, kidneys amongst
other organs, and the foetus), with boorish aggressive behaviour.

The outlawing of the opiates has nothing to do with pharmacological
harm but is due to authoritarian religious puritanism.

In Holland in 1996 I have read there were 37 heroin deaths, mostly
foreigners, probably too scared to ring for an ambulance. In Australia
in 1996 the heroin deaths were 642.

Dean R. Bowling,
Glenelg East, SA
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