THE BELL IS STILL TOLLING FOR US ALL

It is impossible not to feel a sense of loss when a 26-year-old person
dies inadvertently, even it that individual engaged in stupid
high-risk behaviour after taking an lilegal drug.

The fact remains though, it was his choice, he took his chances, and
he lost -- causing grief to friends and family and sending ripples
through our community.

He lost, we lost. There are others however who want to make the other
choice, they want to avoid drugs, and they are not being helped by our
State Government.

A Government which wishes to perpetuate drug habits through the
establishment of an officially sanctioned shooting gallery and by
increasing the number of outlets for the heroin substitute methadone,
without investing the same energy in establishing commensurate
programs aimed at reducing drug dependency.

The following letter sent in by the mother of a young junkie expresses
some of the anguish experienced by those close to the battle line:

"We have refugees crying for help and a chance for a better life. We
help them, we give them that chance."

"We hear our children crying out for the same thing and often, as I
now know first hand, we turn our back, forget about them, move on."

"My daughter is 21 years old. She is a heroin addict. I can say this,
but to write it is heartbreakingly painful."

"She was brought before the courts three weeks ago, found guilty of
various offences and spent a week in custody."

"In court again for sentencing, all the while begging my husband and I
to arrange for her to have a barrister so that she would not face any
more time in gaol."

"We did not do this, we wanted our daughter to get the help she so
desperately needed. To the rescue the Salvation Army."

"Although my daughter pleaded with her legal aid representative and
the magistrate to be allowed to go free, get a job, get on with life,
this was denied. 'Thank God.' we thought.

"The magistrate was wonderful. He knew that no matter how good her
intentions were, as soon as she would have walked out of the court,
her downward spiral would continue, and he told her so."

"She was to remain in custody, be assessed by the Salvation Army and
enter the William Booth Drug Rehabilitation program. She would come
back to court next week, told when the Salvos would take charge of her
and the ramifications if she was to walk out of the program."

"During the next week, we spoke to her, spent time with her,
reiterating all the positives that would come out of this. She now
wanted this for herself."

"It's the first time for so long that I have seen her smile. She has a
beautiful smile."

"Back to court Monday, different magistrate. He let her go, no
Salvation Army program on her bail conditions, just go!"

"It's Thursday morning. I know she92s back to the drugs."

"There are a lot of things I would like to ask the second
magistrate."

"One is, `Do you think my daughter will see her 22nd
birthday?'"

The mother who wrote this noted on the back of the last sheet: "I
couldn't read through this so I don92t know it it makes sense." It does.

Her daughter is back on the needle after obtaining drugs at Kings
Cross. A Salvation Army officer said the story was very familiar,
"only the faces change".

Quotes from the great English poet John Donne (1573-1631) are
frequently used to convey a mood or sentiment more eloquently.

The following well-known verses sum up the reason so many feel such
concern for those caught in the tragic drug abuse bedevilling our society.

"No man is an island, entire of its self. Any man's death diminishes
me, because I am involved in Mankind; And there never send to know for
whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."