ADDICTS MUST BE MOTIVATED

I AM the father of a recovering heroin addict, now aged 22, who started his
disastrous experiment at 16. I cannot let the rot espoused by Lawrie
Kavanagh (Perspectives, December 26) go unchallenged.

I agree that Naltrexone should be added to the armoury for treating heroin
addiction. But, unlike Kavanagh and even though I feel uneasy with the
idea, I have come to the pragmatic belief that the supervised supply of
heroin to bona fide addicts should be considered in an effoit to destroy
the street market and its distribution system, to improve the physical
health of addicts, combat transmittable diseases, reduce drug-associated
crime, which is staggering in dollar terms and immeasurable in terms of
emotional traumatisation of the victims and to reduce the prison population.

To suggest that detoxifying and rehabilitating addicts under current
regimes are unsupported by friends and families is nonsense. I wonder where
Kavanagh thinks they live?

People addicted to opiates are no different in many respects from people
addicted to caffeine, gambling, nicotine, alcohol, Prozac or Valium. They
live next door, across the road or down the street. Most outsiders do not
know or recognise any difference.

Compulsory treatment and jail for refusal or recidivism is contrary to
reality. My direct experience tells me that the threat at imprisonment or
reimprisonment is useless as a deterrent.

My son made many unsuccessful, feeble attempts to quit. While under
counselling and using legally prescribed drugs to aid detoxification and
recovery, he was simultaneously consuming marijnana and heroin. His
addiction culminated in almost a year's incarceration for crimes committed
to support his dependence. On the day of his release, his behaviour
suggested that he had "scored". This occurred even though he had to report
to a probation officer within 48 hours of release and could be subject to
mandatory random urine tests. Reassociation with his "peers" began almost
immediately.

The miraculous then occurred. Something happened to make him realise that
life was worth living. Recovery is progressing slowly, one day at a time.
We keep our fingers crossed.

Addicts cannot begin recovery until they are personally motivated.
Kavanagh's "cat-o-nine-tails" approach has zero chance of success.

Name and address supplied. December 31