WHO ARE THEY KIDDING?

DURING a recent trip around Australia, I was saddened to see clear evidence
of hard drug use and resultant crime everywhere I went. An area of great
concern to me is the legitimate sale of drug-smoking paraphernalia which is
displayed as being "for tobacco use only".

These articles (water pipes, bongs, cones) are available from tobacconists,
gifts shops, service stations and newsagencies.

Who are they trying to fool? Everyone knows these articles are for drug
use. Ask any police officer.

When young people see the promotion and sale of these articles by seemingly
responsible business people, particularly at the local shopping mall, why
wouldn't ownership and use of them be legitimised in young impressionable
minds? Business people who sell such items have lost sight of their
responsibilities to the young. They are assisting young people down the
wrong path by displaying these goods.

Statistics show that nearly all victims of hard drug addiction have
progressed from marijuana use. Governments should ban the importation and
sale of these articles if they are serious about attacking the drug problem.

I have voiced my disapproval with business operators where possible and I
call on like-minded people to do the same. We are failing our young people
if we simply accept this gross practice.

David Geary, Everton Park

Checked-by: Richard Lake