Pubdate: Mon, 19 Jun 2000
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 David Syme & Co Ltd
Contact:  250 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Website: http://www.theage.com.au/
Author: Sophie Rudolph

DRUG CURE STARTS WITH SOCIETY'S SOUL

Dealing with a drug problem does not only mean dealing with drugs. It
does not only mean "cleaning up the streets". It does not only mean
stopping drug addicts.

Drug usage is an attempt to numb the pain. Not a physical pain. A soul
pain. A pain so deep and degenerative that only drugs can help in
pretending it's not there.

And why do people suffer such agony? Because we have created a society
so focused on power and greed that we've forgotten the soul.

Injecting rooms are important in regulating what we have brought
about, and drug education is important in creating awareness, but the
only way that we can help heal this wound is by building a society
that cares. We can do it.

SOPHIE RUDOLPH, 17, Elwood
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