IDENTIFY EARLY

DR RICHARD MIDFORD of the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin
University, believes harm minimisation is a practical strategy that deals
with the reality of youth ignoring the dangers of drug use (Letters, 18/3).

Alleged good drug education will provide young people with the life skills
to make better-informed decisions. I'm curious. How much good drug
education is there about drug abuse and attentional disorders, learning
disabilities, tourette syndrome and neurobiologically based behaviour
disorders?

Come to think of it, where are the public-sector services for these
individual "at-risk" conditions that predispose to substance abuse?

They don't exist. Forget harm minimisation and try a little early
identification and intervention before substance abuse develops. No need
to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

SANDY MORAN, City Beach