DON'T KICK ADDICTS WHEN THEY'RE DOWN

Red Symons' patronising and arrogant attitude towards an individual victim
he had the misfortune to come into contact with (Today, 18/4) makes no
contribution whatsoever to the ongoing heroin debate.

Sure, Red, individual victims of heroin may be hopeless and pathetic but to
dismiss them by inferring they should be left to die is surely treating the
symptom and not the cause.

Radiating out from heroin use is a myriad of side-effects: pain, suffering,
addiction, increase in criminal activity, child abuse and neglect to name a
few.

The heroin problem is one for all of us to approach with compassion, concern
and maturity.

PRUE BLACKMORE, Melbourne