NEEDLE EXCHANGE GOOD FOR USERS, NOT OTHERS

The needle exchange reduces the medical risk for drug-users. In that
respect the proponents of the exchange are right. However, the needle
exchange does not make the community safer or address the corollary
criminal harm.

Drug users still need to pay for their hits. They still need to
steal. Especially when they are stoned, they continue to endanger the
public. Recently, two delivery people were attacked by a
knife-wielding drug addict steps from the needle exchange. Cars and
homes continue to be targets.

The needle exchange does nothing to address these problems.
Facilitating drug use does not reduce the risks created by drug use.
These risks can only be addressed by attacking the underlying
problems that cause drug use. These include homelessness, poverty and
mental illness.

The needle exchange is effective for the user. For the community, it
is like trying to stop a forest fire with a garden hose: Dangerous
and ultimately futile.

Michael Butterfield,

Victoria.