HARM MINIMISATION A HARMFUL STRATEGY

THE Australian Family Association and several other parent organisations
have long held that liberalising drug policies is not in the public's best
interest.

Norman Aisbett is commended for his well documented journalistic skills in
"The billionaire drugs and us" (Weekend Extra, 30/11) in which he uncovers
a sinister plot of George Soros and other Americans.

Through their generous funding they are misleading our academics, health
professionals and the Australian Group for Drug Law Reform, into believing
that harm minimisation is in our best interests.

This is totally false.

As your article exposes, marijuana (cannabis) is certainly not the
recreational drug it is purported to be, with serious physical and mental
problems afflicting many users.

The open society Soros plans is in complete contrast with the discipline
that should be encouraged.

Wendy Herbert, spokeswoman for the WA Coalition Against Drugs, is right in
advocating the "say no" approach backed by the law and for education and
intervention through counselling that involves families.

Former WA governer Maj-Gen. Michael Jeffery in a recent address referred to
a survey of Australian attitudes that drugs featured high on the list.

It is our hope that your newspaper will continue to inform the public
through further articles of the harmful effects of drugs and the danger of
the harm minimisation approach.

Deirdre Lyra Secretary, The Australian Family Association, West Perth.