RIGHT TO TREAT ADDICTS HUMANELY

I support Australia trying new ways to treat drug addicts. In Switzerland we
already have several years of experience with "shooting galleries" where
heavy drug addicts can get clean heroin for little money in order that their
health condition can be improved.

Most of the addicts are then able to work again. What's more, street crime
has declined. After years of little success fighting the use of illegal
drugs only with repression, we now see that prevention and cure of already
addicted persons is much more effective in handling the bad effects of drug
use on the public. Furthermore prevention measures, "shooting galleries" and
drug treatment programs are much cheaper than putting addicts in prison.

I would be happy if other countries would also look for new ways to manage
this problem rather than just following examples such as the US's decades
long unsuccessful fight against drugs.

Gin Moller, Zurich