ATTRACTING ADDICTS

Tanya Plibersek, our Federal MP, appears to believe that the medically
supervised injecting centre (MSIC) will get people off the streets and save
lives at the same time. If only it were true.

Firstly let me say the MSIC is an injecting room not a hotel. The addict
injects and then is held for, say, half an hour when the "nodding" has
stopped. The addict then goes back on the street. The limited opening hours
of the centre (eight hours out of 24) means that at some stage he/she will
have to inject elsewhere, such as the street.

Secondly, there is no empirical evidence that this type of centre will save
lives. Most expert observers acknowledge that the trial will be difficult
to monitor in this regard even after it has run its 18-month course.

Thirdly, expect an influx of addicts if the MSIC opens. These people will
be looking for money to buy drugs to use in the MSIC and it may be your
mobile phone or handbag they will be putting in their veins.

P.D. Haege, Kings Cross Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Kings Cross, March 26.