DRUG COCKTAILS BIGGEST KILLER

IF the harm minimisation people had half the vision of Blind Freddy, they
would be able to read the coroner's 1996-98 statistics on drug-related
deaths.

Out of the 410 drug-related deaths recorded, heroin was the identified cause
of death in only 30 cases. (That's 7 per cent).

In a further 32 cases, heroin was listed as a principal factor, so even if
we include these, the total is 15 per cent. The overwhelming cause of death
according to the coroner's drug overdose statistics is from a "cocktail" of
drugs and impurities.

The proposed injecting rooms will do nothing to control or even stop the
supply.

However, they will attract dealers like moths to a bright light, which in
turn will lead to an increase in the supply, and as sure as night follows
day it will send out the wrong message and we will have an increase in the
number of people on drugs.

M. Murray,
Ballarat