WHY DRUG TRIALS ARE THE WAY TO GO

IN OPPOSING injecting rooms Peter Faris QC must have his head in the sand
(TMT, July 19). He argues that injecting rooms "would attract more drug
dealers" and there would be more "robberies, theft and stabbings".

Where has Peter Faris been for the past 10 years? Doesn't he know that
injecting rooms will not bring these things, they are with us now? He then
argues that the "government was falsely arguing that injecting rooms saved
lives". Again he has not, or does not, want to hear what the government or
professionals have to say.

In European cities, where there are more than 45 injecting rooms, there have
been no overdose deaths in the centres and the overdose death rate in those
cities has been declining since the introduction of injecting rooms.

This may not be proof positive but is very strong evidence. Such strong
evidence that any community leader would be morally at fault not to support
a trial of injecting rooms.

We only have to look to the USA -- where there are two million people in
jail mostly for drug-related causes -- to see that the punitive approach
offers no solutions for drug use, addiction and overdose deaths.

Isn't it far better to treat drug addiction as a health problem? Isn't it
better to try a new approach in an effort to save even one life?

B McCONNELL, President, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform
Higgins, ACT