DRUG TRIAL REJECTION SHAME

I BELIEVE Canberra's good reputation as a caring and tolerant society
was damaged the day ACT Legislative Assembly members rejected the safe
injecting room.

Assembly members who have rejected a proven medical program which saves
lives, are either totally ignorant of drug addiction or are only
interested in power or popularity (certainly not courage or
leadership). Either way the rejection of this small trial is, I
believe, a crime against humanity. Considering most major health
authorities in the world state quite clearly, drug addiction is a
health problem. When one considers that there is not a scrap of
evidence to prove our present tough-on-drugs laws are working and
reduce harm to those most in danger.

In fact, there is clear evidence to prove our present drug laws only
cost huge amounts of money and cost thousands of lives. It is
therefore clear Assembly members are putting lives at risk supporting
our present drug laws.

I hope Assembly members remember the thousands of family and friends
who have lost loved ones from heroin overdose death, since these
punitive laws were introduced, how offensive this rejection must be to
them.

It would be a major step forward to believe that Assembly members do
have a sense of humanity by stating publicly their deep regret for the
loss of the safe injecting room, and say sorry to the family and
friends, who will lose loved ones, from heroin overdose death, without
medical help, some in toilets, or dark alleys, alone, without dignity
or hope.

Shame on those members who show no remorse for their rejection of a
health trial to save lives.