PRICING DRUGS OFF THE MARKET

Ross Gittins says the war on drugs is being won, based on the heroin
shortage and the price "elasticity" of drugs ("Victory for the police in
war on drugs", Herald, April 7). Evidence for this is fewer overdoses and a
reduction in property crime.

But a few months ago statistics were released linking visits by heroin (and
other intravenous drug) users to the medically supervised injecting room in
Kings Cross with fewer heroin overdoses. Follow-up rehabilitation-oriented
and counselling work with these users may also account for the drop in
property crime.

If pricing is so determinative a factor in the demand for drugs, why not
substantially increase the levies on alcohol and nicotine products since
these are the most problematic and deadly of all the drugs available in our
society, licit or illicit?

Fred Jansohn,

Rose Bay, April 7.