TIME TO EXPERIMENT WITH HEROIN

After reading "The Evil Economy" (B, October 27), I am convinced no one has
a clue how much heroin is actually being smuggled into Australia or how
much crime is related to heroin dependency. The article states that $3.5
billion is contributed to international crime coffers from heroin, yet the
Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales
claims research shows addicts commit $1.6 billion in property crime a year.
So where does the other $1.9 billion come from? Wages? We aren't talking
small change here.

Trying to quantify the costs to Australian society, both fiscally and
socially, is little more than guesswork.

If the National Crime Authority chairman admits the war is perhaps
unwinnable, why don't we withdraw the troops? What is so wrong with trying
a controlled experiment where addicts are provided with heroin?

It seems that the sensible solution to an unwinnable war is not to keep
sacrificing bodies at the frontline using the same old tactics, but to try
a different tactic.

And even if it isn't done for reasons of genuine compassion for the
suffering of our fellow citizens, it can be done for sound financial
reasons - less crime, less police and less prisons.

PAUL SCOTT
NEWCASTLE, NSW

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson