The Premier of New South Wales, Mr Bob Carr, is misleading us badly
when he suggests that the ill effects of the consumption of 400
kilograms of heroin have somehow been prevented by the interception of
a shipment of that size (The Age, 15/10).

Reducing the supply of heroin merely increases its price, and does
nothing to alter the demand for it.

There is no evidence that cases of hepatitis C will be prevented by
this interception. The incidence of hepatitis C may actually increase
because addicts maybe more likely to share their (more costly) doses.

The losers from this interception will be all Australians, who have to
bear the increasing costs of crime associated with illicit drug usage
as well as the costs of the substantial police effort.

The winners will be the principals of the other heroin manufacturing
and importation syndicates who will receive a higher return for their
product, some senior police who will receive commendations for their
work, and politicians such as Mr Carr, who make misleading statements
for their own political purposes.

If heroin that was safe, inexpensive and locally manufactured, was
available through pharmacists to registered addicts, then we would
truly minimise the serious and substantial harm that is presently done
both to the addicts and to our economy by our current misguided drug
policies. Instead, we have to put up with people like Mr Carr and the
Prime Minister, Mr Howard, who will do nothing to address the problem
effectively.

Dr ANDREW ROTHFIELD, Hawthorn