BEHAVIOUR OF ADDICTS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD

B. McCONNELL'S logic ("Logic ignored in policies to prohibit drugs",
Letters, 5 November) on illicit-drug policies appears sorely in need
of rehabilitation.

First, Ansett's bins will not be in the seat pockets, where, according
to Mr McConnell, syringes are left. The bins will be in the toilets.

Three gentlemen recovered from drug addiction told me recently that
many people make the mistake of not comprehending addiction behaviour.
They said unequivocally that if shooting up on a plane the last thing
on an addict's mind is protecting passengers from needle-stick injury.
That is the nature of addiction.

Not to listen to those who have been addicted but are recovered is
akin to not listening to advice on mountaineering by someone who has
climbed Everest.

Second, they told me we do not need shooting galleries and
heroin-maintenance programs in Australia to be certain they will not
break an addict's addiction for the simple, logical reason they are
not intended to - because they are drug maintenance programs, not
addiction-breaking programs.

What they were telling me (and, indirectly, Mr McConnell) was that
logic is not determined by geography. Sounds logical.

COLLIS PARRETT
Convener
Make Illicit Drugs
Socially Unacceptable
Bruce


Checked-by: Rich O'Grady