MPS SHOULD SINCERELY TACKLE DRUG PROBLEM

"PUSHING the envelope'', "Winning the drug war'', "They're victims!'',
"Prohibition isn't working'', etc. Cliches one and all, lacking in
depth, lacking in insight.

Truth does after all conquer all, not grandstanding and not
microscopic self-serving or self-absorption. The truth about narcotics
is that you take them because it's exciting the group, the drug, the
scene. Then you take them because its relief from work, people, life.
Then you take them because physically and psychologically you have to.
In the meantime, some of you will die, because you misjudge or mix
your narcotics.

Some of you need more money than you have, so you steal or prey off
others, one way or another, to get more. All of you ultimately become
sick. No exceptions. Narcotic misuse is neither a law-enforcement nor
a medical problem.

There are law-enforcement and medical outcomes from the
problem.

But the problem is a social one where it starts, where it is
fertilised, family, schools, points of social interaction or inaction,
interest or disinterest, material glut or deprivation. It's just too
easy for responsibility-avoiding politicians to grandstand and
"cliche-speak''. But they are our social, not merely our oratory
leaders, aren't they? I wish they would tackle the problems and their
causes, not just beat their heartfelt chests in front of the media on
just the outcomes.

Easy, easy politics but the future will forget you all, until we find
someone who will tackle the problem.

CHRIS EATON
Curtin