WILL LEADERS LISTEN TO TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS?

IT'S ALWAYS extremely sad when anyone dies a lonely drug overdose
death (B. Mcconnell, Letters, October 26). Such events remind the
community of the greater good and individual good.

With illicit drug use the two can be travelling companions - but not
if they take the shooting-gallery path. Despite all that the community
can do, there will still be some casualties - witness the
drink-driving scenario.

Only eight months ago a Joint Select Committee of the NSW Parliament
rejected shooting galleries for NSW. People who are on or have
completed rehabilitation programs (eg. the Salvation Army one) have
very recently told the ACT and Australian communities that shooting
galleries and heroin-maintenance programs are a waste of life and money.

We must listen to them as they had "had the devil on their back" and
gotten rid of him only by breaking the addiction, which shooting
galleries won't ever do.

As those who have recovered state, shooting galleries only encourage
further and wider drug use, and they call loudly for ACT funds that
are (or will be) earmarked for shooting galleries to be poured into
rehabilitation programs instead of drug maintenance and drug
substitution. But will our leaders listen?

COLLISS PARRETT
Bruce


Checked-by: Rich O'Grady