WAR ON DRUGS HAS FAILED

What is really behind the opposition of Mr Howard and [the Salvation
Army's] Major Brian Watters to a trial of the medically supervised
injecting room?

Given that its proponents have always seen it as part of a broad
strategy including enforcement, education, prevention and harm
minimisation, there is no logical basis for their opposition.

Could it be that they see the continuing deaths of a number of addicts
as having a salutary demonstration effect on those contemplating
taking drugs for the first time, and therefore see those deaths as
necessary?

Or is it that they see those dying as the inevitable casualties in a
war of good (them) against evil (drugs)?

Sadly, as has been demonstrated with great clarity for all who wish to
see, the "war" on drugs, as promoted by the ever-blind United States,
has failed totally, comprehensively, dismally. For those, such as Mr
Howard and Major Watters, who suffer from the delusion that yesterday
is really tomorrow, there is no really going forward, only a
continuing retreat to the past.

Les MacDonald, Balmain.