CRIMINALISING THE DRUG HAS FAILED

The editorial condemning the regulated provision of heroin to addicts in
Sydney is big on criticism but short on constructive alternatives.

The undeniable fact is that nothing anywhere, at any time, was ever stopped
by making it illegal. Australia does not share the same myopia which allows
Thai politicians to declare prostitution non-existent simply because it is
illegal. Heroin and heroin addicts exist despite the drug being prohibited
for decades. It can't be made any more illegal than it already is, but
heroin continues to be readily available. How then can a prohibition policy
demonstrated to be a failure be continued indefinitely? So what to do?
Continue with the same policy regardless? Maybe it will work next week, next
year or next century. Maybe all the addicts will die and then there won't be
any dealers or any problem.

But the truth is that while there is still a supply of heroin there will
always be new addicts. Some of these addicts are the sons and daughters of
loving parents who are fed up with the current policy of wishful thinking as
a solution. For the sake of a clean needle or a regulated dose these people
need not die. A government-sanctioned facility will provide both of these.
Then at least addicts can live and attempt to become free of their addiction
at some future time.

If the government balks at providing safe heroin then perhaps the
administration of lethal doses could be considered. By continuing with the
current dismally ineffective solution, the government is condemning many
addicts to death anyway. Why not do it properly and more humanely? But then
again, the Australian federal government would rather see people die in
agony and without dignity as evidenced by its recently demonstrated
short-sighted response to euthanasia where local laws were overridden. Such
compassion is reserved for dogs and cats instead.

Prime Minister John Howard's government is a backward-looking government
firmly seated in the 1950s and bereft of any touch with 21st century
society. What's needed is new ideas and the willingness to try them without
the fear of failure. We have already failed.

Regulated and supervised injection of heroin may not reduce the number of
addicts but it will reduce the number of deaths. New South Wales should be
congratulated for taking what is a politically risky initiative. Let's hope
euthanasia is next.

Steve Pedrotta