Pubdate: Mon, 19 Jun 2000
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  GPO Box 3771, Sydney NSW 2001
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Website: http://www.smh.com.au/
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Author: Graeme Elliot
Note: Headline supplied by newshawk

ABANDON FAILED DRUG POLICY

There is something that the Rev Fred Nile and Robyn Deathridge
(Letters, June 16) are forgetting in this war on drugs.

History tells us the true story about heroin and the selfish desires
of "addiction". It is all very fine to say to the people "don't take
drugs", but the people selling the drugs know all they have to do is
lure a new user to an addiction to heroin.

Following that, the "addiction" will ensure regular visits for a
heroin top-up. And it is the defenceless young children on the streets
who are the victims, forced into crime and prostitution through their
addiction.

History also tells us this war on drugs has now been going for more
than 60 years and failing dismally. Drug addicts have been sent to
prison with hardened criminals, zero tolerance has been implemented in
the US with little success, the "just say no to drugs" campaign has
been running for years and still the addicts come. It's time to
abandon failed drug policy and find new ways to protect the next
generation from entrapment by the drug industry kings.

Graeme Elliot, Wentworthville.
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