LOGIC LACKING - NO 1

MR TRICKETT has odd ideas on what constitutes a moral issue and what
constitutes dogma (CT, June 3). Drug-related illness and death are
increasingly seen as health problems and health is increasingly basing
action upon good evidence.

The evidence says that injecting rooms reduce illness and death without
recruiting anyone to drug use. Many European cities are now following the
Swiss lead in this regard.

No morals, no dogma, just more people alive and more chance to address drug
use and other life issues. The stance of modern prohibitionist
anti-reformers, who redouble their efforts despite evidence that taxpayer's
money is being spent increasing damage to users and their community, looks
more like moral dogma to most who carefully consider the issues.

To suggest that politicians should follow their beliefs (something we
discourage in health-care decisions generally), but not if it's in favour
of injecting rooms, is not at all logical.

(Dr) ROD MACQUEEN FRACGP RACGP Rep, NSW Drug Summit; Chairman, RACGP/RANZCP
JCC in Psychiatry; Methadone prescriber in GP since 1983.