As a parent of a long-term drug addict, I must agree with Athol
Moffitt in much of his letter (August 24). In particular, his
paragraph: "I suggest our hospitals and the under-financed drug
rehabilitation institutions are in greater need of money."

My experience is that there are ridiculously few detox and rehab
centres to meet the huge needs of the ever increasing number of addicts.

The cry the addicts "must want to stop" is true to a point, but so
many take those first steps into detox and then flounder because of
the lack of staff to support them during this most vulnerable stage.
Rehabilitation is a long, slow process, nine to 12 months, for which
the immediate family, despite a willingness to support the process, is
not trained to cope.

It appears our efforts to stop the importation of heroin are making
little impact on the number of users. We must therefore try to help
those who are addicted to find a better life. This takes time,
understanding, dedication and money.

Safe injecting houses, controlled heroin distribution, legalisation of
heroin, methadone clinics - it's all the same in the end. You are
still an addict, and in the most part will lead a very short, sad,
sordid life.

Those who overdose and are saved, more often than not, return to life
on the streets rather than enter a detox and rehab centre, and the
hideous cycle begins again.

Not only do the addicts' lives continue to be destroyed, but so too do
the lives of the families who love them.

August 24 Name withheld, Sydney.