GO FOR FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE

No doubt all the doctors, counsellors, rehabilitation workers, parents and
other people associated with drug addiction who speak at the forthcoming
drug summit will make worthy and sincere contributions.

Hut how many of these people have had, or still have, a chronic dependency
on drugs? I suspect few, if any. Will that not ensure that all information
provided primarily will be second-hand and confine the ensuing discussion to
a theoretical perspective?

I would suggest that the summit be extended for a couple of days to provide
an opportunity for all our State politicians to spend time in detox centres,
rehabilitation clinics, Narcotics Anonymous meetings and other venues where
they may talk extensively, and listen, to people who have had or still have
a drug dependency. This would enable them to place the theoretical arguments
into a pragmatic context

Michael Brereton,
North Epping.

May 10

I wonder why Bob Carr is bothering to hold a drugs summit at all. Having
chosen people who will give him the answer the Government wants to hear, he
could save us poor taxpayers a lot of money by just telling us the findings now.

Amanda Harrison,
Epping.