STILL A GOOD CASE FOR A HEROIN TRIAL

DR JAGO'S claim that legal sanctions do make a difference to the use of
illegal drugs is based on a false premise (Letters, June 26). He claims that
2 per cent of our population use heroin but even the National Drug Strategy
Household Survey, from which these figures come, acknowledges that this
figure is underestimated. Of course this percentage is dubious, as naturally
enough, people will rarely admit to an illegal act.

He assumes that since 98 per cent of people have never used heroin then
prohibition is working. Even if this figure was correct, Dr Jago naively
dismisses the widespread and extensive devastation which is caused because
these 2 per cent of people are going to use illegal heroin an omission that
would not be expected from a well-educated person.

He dismisses the immense harm and cost to our society the corruption of our
police force and other officials, the property crime, the violence including
murder, the cost of law enforcement and the criminal-justice system and the
emotional devastation to families and friends.

All of this, and more, is caused by our prohibition drug policies.
Prohibition has also allowed many criminals to become very wealthy while the
victims (those who fall prey to illegal drugs) pay, often with their lives.

The ACT heroin trial, which is a rigorous scientific trial, might give some
answers. Dr Jago may well dismiss the Swiss heroin trial results, but can he
now dismiss the positive results from the recent British trials? Dr Alex
Wodak is correct in continuing to campaign for it.

B. McCONNELL President, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Higgins


Checked-by: Melodi Cornett