THEY ARE NOT DRUG PROBLEMS

GEOFF GALLOP responded to the two weekend bashings of elderly Perth
residents by talking about drug policy (Drug stand linked to attacks, 3/5).

Like many others, he assumed the offenders were drug addicts.

The cowardly attacks on elderly people are being committed by people with
living problems, not drug problems, yet all too often they are labelled as
drug-related crimes.

Yes, they buy drugs, but in most cases they buy drugs to party with, not
because they are addicts.

If they get caught, it is better for them to blame drug addiction than
admit they are low-life parasites - so they project the addict image.

I know many heroin addicts and most are normal in every aspect of life
except for their addiction. Most agree that the hardest thing to cope with
is unwarranted stigma.

ROSCO WOODS, Leederville.