$5 TO GET into the national park? Well, all right. $10 to get into
Floriade? Well, if it's really necessary. But $15 per week to be on
the methadone program? No, absolutely not.

This is a life-or-death matter and it should not he negotiable on the
basis that if you want it badly enough you'll pay for it.

People making the decision to go on the methadone program, often at a
very low point emotionally, physically and financially, need every
support and encouragement. They do not need to be slugged with a fee.

Perhaps it does not matter too much if the Floriade becomes
unaffordable and dies from insufficient patronage - but it strikes
right at the heart of our social being if we silently accept the
user-pays approach to the methadone program.

Anne Yuille
Downer