NO ATTEMPT MADE TO REBUT CRITICS

PRIOR to Mr Kennett's forthcoming meeting, suggestions for a heroin
trial are emanating like the discharge of an old grapeshot gun. The
desperation is obvious as the AMA and Meg Lees, while making no
attempt to refute Swiss Dr Aeschbach's description of the country's
heroin trial as "abysmal" (because it is true) nevertheless call for a
heroin trial.

Also conveniently ignored totally are the reported statements by Dr
Sue Ruben, director of a 1000-plus Liverpool (UK) drug clinic: "The
other argument . . . is that heroin should just be a legalised drug.
In other words make it legal like alcohol.

But that wouldn't do anything.

For a start would heroin be legal for 10- and 12-year-olds? And if
heroin just became legal for adults, there'd be a lot more pressure on
people who have suddenly lost their source of income to push it on to
children.'' And again, "With the best will in the world there just
isn't the money and if you expand heroin programs you'll have even
less money because (using the Swiss example) it costs approximately 17
times more to treat people with heroin rather than methadone'' (Sydney
Morning Herald, February 27, p.33). It's easy to see why Mr Howard is
standing his ground.

COLLIS PARRETT
Bruce