DUTCH CANNABIS LEADS TO HEROIN

I UNDERSTAND the difficulties that parents and teachers face over the
growing experimentation with drugs by young people. This is a problem
beyond political posturing. On a recent overseas trip I read a magazine
report on the problems facing the Dutch who have drugs free and available
to all their people. However, this has resulted in a high price. The Dutch
now have 25,000 heroin addicts. It is interesting to note that 90% of these
addicts started on cannabis before graduating to heroin addiction. This
should be a clear warning to those who want to see New Zealand go down this
track.

Michael Groffman, St Clair

[Abridged. - Ed.]