HARM MINIMISATION NEEDS A REWRITE

BILL MUEHLENBERG is correct that the harm minimisation approach to drug
policy has not worked (Opinion, 11/12).

Harm minimisation was adopted by the Hawke government's Drug Offensive
campaign and since then drug use and deaths have increased substantially.

The Victorian Government's drug experts have revealed heroin deaths grew
from 98 in 1992 to 359 in 1999 -- a clear indication of the failure of a
policy that normalised mind-altering drug use in the period.

All illegal drugs are dangerous because of their adverse effects on health,
longevity, social functioning, driving and life itself, and should never be
normalised or given any form of legal sanction because this does expand the
user population.

Sweden, Singapore and some parts of the US have been successful in reducing
their drug problem by introducing mandatory detoxification followed by
comprehensive rehabilitation, and this is the way ahead for Australia.

Current policies that assist addicts to maintain their drug use by offering
syringes, drugs, facilities and drug overdose resuscitation have played into
the hands of the drug pushers and international drug barons.

Our obligations to the UN International Narcotics Control Board are to keep
all illicit drugs illegal to reduce the demand and the number of addicts. We
need a drug education program to help our kids say no to drugs using
truthful information on the toxic effects of mind-altering drugs.

We are sick of drugs being used as a political football and we want proven
solutions that reduce the number of addicts and drug deaths and that is why
we must have a new policy of harm elimination.

David Perrin, Chairman, Drug Advisory Council of Australia Inc