Well might Police Commissioner Peter Ryan tell London's Daily Mail
that we are "not winning" the war on drugs (Daily Telegraph, January
11).

These disclosures by the State's top police officer indicate that
despite increased surveillance and penalties, more people than ever
are turning to injectable drugs in the cities and now in rural and
regional centres in NSW.

It is time to acknowledge that a legal solution will now be found.
Putting users and dealers in jail only gives temporary respite.

For each person imprisoned, 10 more spring up to take their place. Nor
is education the answer.

Today's drug users are more knowledgeable than a number of medical
practitioners on the dangers of street drugs.

The fundamental breakdown in family structure and hopelessness in the
young leads many to try injectable oblivion.

The answer lies partly in treating this problem as a medical
emergency.

Surely we need to treat the bushfire of addiction before it burns out
of control.

Dr. Ray Seidler,
Kings Cross