INJECTING ROOMS PLASTER ON CANCER

An article handed to me from "Teen Challenge", a very successful drug
rehabilitation program operated by the Assemblies of God Church, made
some pertinent points in regard to the drug debate. It spoke of a
young man who now knows freedom. Like any addict, to get freedom he
had to arrive at a point of truth where he acknowledged he had a
problem - addiction. From that point he had to take personal
responsibility for his addiction and his response to it.

The article refers to the ongoing discussion about heroin trials. The
question to those promoting such schemes is: Does it solve the
problem? Or is prolonging an addict's pain? Safe injecting rooms is an
oxymoron. There is no such thing as safe injecting. Heroin trials and
shooting rooms are like placing a sticking plaster on cancer.

Addiction is not a new problem and it is always symptomatic of a
bigger problem. Addictions sedate the pain of other heart issues,
which is why the church should stand confident in tackling drugs
head-on. Those heart issues can only be dealt with by giving people
hope.

It is interesting to note that reformed addicts all say that a
shooting gallery (safe injecting room) will do nothing to prevent the
spread of heroin use, in fact will probably increase its use. Yet a
minority group from the Uniting Church is hell bent on proceeding with
the trial of injecting rooms on humanitarian grounds. I believe this
group does not understand the implications of its actions.

The drug culture in Sydney has been successful in creating, in the
minds of some politicians, the need for shooting galleries without the
supporters really knowing the futility and negative message this
venture will produce.

It has now become a party politics issue with the Labor Party
appearing to bend to the pressure in bigger numbers than the
Coalition, hence the softening attitude and changes we all have been
dreading.