IT MAY come as a surprise to Father Laurie Cusack (Letters, June 17) to
find out that drug harm minimisation is not only our Government's official
strategy but a highly successful one at that.

Father Cusack believes his stance is "governed by the most up-to-date
information". I don't think so.

Almost all major studies of drug policy from around the world - including
the Victorian Government's Pennington report - concluded that our current
drug laws need to be reformed, if not revoked.

Father Cusack could find many of these policy documents via the Internet's
library of drug policy at http://www.druglibrary.org, both for and against
change.

A major argument advanced by those who oppose change to our drugs laws is
the concern that such change might send "the wrong message" to our
children.

I'm fed up with hearing about the stereotypical susceptible child who
apparently might view any lessening in our drug laws as an excuse to
shoot-up on heroin.

The children I know understand the issue all too well, and know exactly
what reform of drug laws would mean - an acknowledgement that current
methods are bit the best way to control drug abuse.

Ken Russell, North Wollongong

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)