HELP THE ADDICTS

WHILE police forces Australia-wide are congratulating themselves on
creating the most severe heroin "drought" in 20 years, it may be timely to
consider what immediate effects are being felt on the streets by addicts
and dealers.

The limited supply has forced the price of a street gram - enough to keep
the average addict out of withdrawal for three to four days - up from $400
to as high as $2000.

As a result, I know a female addict who has had to resume work in the sex
industry to maintain her habit. A male addict I know has resorted to
crushing, dissolving and injecting benzodiazepine tablets at the risk of
blood clots, venous damage and even death. Others may have chosen to try
raising the cash - attempting burglary or perhaps robbery with violence.

Meanwhile, the dealers who have access to supplies of heroin are rubbing
their hands with glee as government law-enforcement policies enable them to
generate their obscene profits at up to five times their usual rate.

Unless governments are willing to increase their investment in medical
treatment for addicts by a similar factor, they will be reducing the drugs
supply at the cost of a huge increase in harmful effects on our society.

Alan Brown, Tuart Hill