DRUG ADDICTION PROGRAMMES

Sir - You published a report (March 3rd) that was critical of Tony
Geoghegan as Director of The Merchant's Quay Project. Tony had proposed the
provision of legally controlled and medically supervised heroin to some
drug users. He presented this as one option in a range of drug treatment
options.

The article also suggested that we Franciscans take a "hard look" at what
the project and its director are doing. The Franciscans see the project as
one of its justice initiatives. They are involved in its management
structure and are fully aware of its services. They give Tony Geoghegan
their full support and agree with him that the controlled distribution of
heroin should be considered as an option that has merits. In fact the
Franciscan Justice Director made this same point in his submission to the
Crime Forum in February 1998.

The well-thought-out statements of our project director are based on the
best available information from other countries. The results of Swiss
trials are showing considerable benefits not only to the injecting drug
users but also to their families and to their communities in the reduction
of crime, homelessness and disease transmission.

In Merchants' Quay we carry out our own research. Research at a local and
an international level informs our best practice in the care and treatment
of drug users. In our work we take the harm reduction approach. The
principle feature of this is the acceptance of the fact that all drug users
cannot be expected to cease their drug use at the present time.

The complex problem of drug use must be tackled through a variety of
treatment options and development programmes. Merchant's Quay provides
these options in its various centres. Under the direction of Tony
Geoghegan, it offers services that include crisis intervention, syringe
exchange, stabilisation of lifestyle, detox and drug free programmes. We
give Tony our full support in this work - Yours, etc.,

Fr Sean Cassin, OFM, Guardian,
Fr Gerr Raftery, OFM, Justice Director,
Merchants' Quay,
Dublin 2