DRUG MESSAGE IS CONFUSING

IT SEEMS that the community's response to the drug problem continues to be
inspired by panic. Despite Peter Carnley adding his voice to those calling
for injection rooms and prescribed heroin, John Howard remains concerned
about the message they send to the community.

However, in addition to the message being sent to the community, as someone
who works with people having problems with their drug use, I am also
concerned about the message being sent to drug addicts.

The rationale for these services is that an addicted person can't stop
their drug use. While this is the experience of the addict, it needs to be
challenged, not reinforced. By providing services to assist people to feed
their addiction, we become an accomplice with the drug addict avoiding
responsibility for his or her behaviour. Not so long ago, this was called
co-dependency.

This may not be the motivation for suggesting such services, but that is
the message being sent to drug users.

People say don't judge the person, judge the behaviour. I agree. So don't
support the behaviour, support the person.

Matthew Waldron, counsellor, Drug ARM WA.