FREE HEROIN OR FREE DETOX PROGRAMS?

Consideration is being given to the provision of rooms for the safe
injection of heroin (now there is an oxymoron!).

Many drug-related deaths are due to overdose through using heroin of
uncertain strength, or by poisoning through impurities used to "cut" the
drugs.

Perhaps it is time that consideration is given to providing not only the
rooms and the needles free, but the heroin also. If this were freely
available from government sources, then surely the purity and strength could
be guaranteed and these deaths avoided. Possibly a small charge could be
levied per syringe.

Then, too, the dealers would be out of a job, the crime rate would drop (by
about 80 per cent, according to the Ted Noffs Foundation) and no addict
would be further degraded by having to be a thief in order to support the
very expensive (at the moment) habit.

Bulk buying by government would produce the lowest possible price. Or
perhaps it could subsidise local growers with a controlled crop. And what
about a tax on it in line with alcohol and tobacco?

The number of police, court officials, magistrates, welfare workers, medical
personnel, etc, who would be released is staggering. If we are to support
injection rooms, and free syringes at public expense, what can be the
objection to supplying, to registered addicts, the drug as well? How far
should we go?

Antony Howell, Bawley Point.