WHY DOESN'T SOCIETY CARE ABOUT ADDICTS?

In the small hours of Monday morning I had the privilege of working with a
wonderful team. I was called on to help assess the injuries of a
middle-aged woman who had thrown herself in front of a train. Thankfully,
she was not severely injured (it was surmised that she must have fallen
between the tracks).

I was given a brief history of the patient - she had been a heroin user,
had maintained her equilibrium on methadone for years, and had a relapse.
She was so depressed over her relapse she wanted to end her life.

Everyone involved in medically tending to the injured woman displayed such
compassion and understanding I was bursting with pride to be part of the team.

If nurses and doctors who see it all, all the time, can take the time to
care about people with addictions, why can't society in general?

Elly Inta, Family Drug Support, Ashfield, March 14.