PAYOUT CLOUDS THE DRUG ISSUE

The award of a large amount of money to a barmaid at Port Kembla for cancer
caused by passive smoking only makes the situation on drugs harder to
understand.

Many people have a jaundiced view of drug addicts.

But consider two drug addicts -- one harms only themself and the other
inflicts potential death and suffering on others with seemingly not a care
in the world.

Of course, the latter is a cigarette smoker, while the former is an illegal
drug user.

A heroin user injecting himself hurts no one else -- in fact almost falling
asleep. But a smoker at a bar is knowingly inflicting second-hand smoke on
any non-smokers nearby.

It is prohibition that causes the crime from illegal drugs -- why not
legalise them and then the only "druggies" will be the tobacco and alcohol
drug users and we'd all be better off.

L. Smith
Cremorne