MEETING TODAY'S NEEDS IN SUBSTANCE MISUSE

Richard Stagno Navarra's reminder that 10 years have passed since the
presentation of the Meli report is appreciated. Though Mr Stagno Navarra
may feel that the contribution of the committee that worked hard to come up
with the Meli report has been forgotten, I can assure him that in the past
10 years many young people and their families have silently appreciated the
service they received and the chance they were given to renew their life.

I have been working in the field of substance misuse for the past 10 years
and have witnessed the change for the better that the service has
undergone. I appreciate and fully agree with Mr Stagno Navarra's suggestion
that 10 years since the presentation of the Meli report should instigate a
review of the suggestions that remain valid today.

Ten years are quite a long time and the needs of young people having a drug
problem then may differ to a greater or lesser extent from the needs of the
young people misusing drugs today. May I suggest that rather than embarking
on a review that is limited just to the suggestions in the Meli report, we
look forward and work as hard as the Meli committee in formulating
suggestions that will be valid for the years to come.

It is becoming urgent that work done in the past 10 years is analysed and
its outcome measured. People with the same stamina as those who worked on
the Meli committee must ensure that mistakes done in the past 10 years are
not repeated. They must ensure that the services available are updated so
as to better address the needs of today's drug misusers. They must come up
with suggestions that ensure that services available today incorporate
recent developments both in the prevention and the treatment fields. Most
of all they must ensure that human resources are available to bring about
these changes.

Moses Camilleri,

Zebbug