I AM a heroin addict. But before I am dismissed as another member of
the lower-class, uneducated junkie population, please realise that I
completed Year 12 at one of Sydney's best private schools and passed -
convincingly - my first two years of university before dropping out
due to my addiction.

Michael Robinson (The Sun-Herald, July 16) states that cutting supply
of heroin to addicts will help solve the problem.

How does he propose that it be done?

Over the last five years the Australian Customs budget has been
increased, the number of seizures has increased and we have also had
several enormous, well-publicised seizures.

But on the streets of Cabramatta heroin has become cheaper and more
pure than when I started using it five years ago.

This should dispel the popularly held myth that simply cutting supply
of heroin stops the heroin addicts.

Michael Robinson states heroin injecting rooms will only serve to
prolong addiction. He is correct only in the sense that injecting
rooms can and will prevent addicts from dying.

Apart from this, injecting rooms will be equipped to give addicts
advice, support and referrals to treatment and health services as well
as helping to slow or stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

The assertion that addicts commit crime sprees against taxpayers and
our property is a gross and highly offensive generalisation of all
addicts. I have no criminal record and have never committed any crime
against taxpayers or their property.

My only crime was the mistake of getting mixed up with heroin, which
only hurts me.

Get to know at least one addict before you brandish us all with the
same tainted brush.

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