THE DRUG SUMMIT

I AM a 30-year-old addict and I have been using daily since I was about 14.
Many, many times I have tried to stop. I have gone cold turkey and
attempted many programs but somehow I always end up falling back into my
old ways. My doctor says that besides support and advice, there is not much
else that he can do.

I know that eventually my addiction will kill me, not to mention the years
of pain before it does and the cost, both to me and the health- care
system. Many of my friends are in the same position.

Heroin, I hear you exclaim. Well, no . . . nicotine, actually. And if
heroin becomes available by prescription, maybe my patches, gum and quit
programs will also be free. I won't hold my breath, however, because it
seems that some addictions are more important than others.

ROHAN CARTER
Mandurah

How much is the WA Government planning to spend on addressing the drug
problem? Will most of this money be spent on treatment and rehabilitation
for those who want to be free of their drug problem or will it be spent on
enabling the hard-core, drug-dependent people to continue with their habit
in a safe environment? Is it not better to help those people who want help?

MARY WILLIAMS
Leeming.

Drugs are here now and they have become a big part of society. Cleaning
them out is totally irrational. The only thing we can do is to keep the
drug users totally aware of what they are doing, because it is only they
who can make the decision to stop using.

DANIEL J. BURT
Kalgoorlie