VIOLENCE NO SOLUTION FOR DRUG ADDICTION

In regards to the destruction of the home on Speed Avenue, I was left
wondering why the phrase "home invasion" was not used to describe the
barbarism that took place against the tenants of this house.

I can understand the residents being frustrated with the noise and
hazardous litter that may have originated from the house in question.
However, I am deeply disturbed that reacting with this level of violence is
seen as acceptable to Victorians.

This article, and the community response, demonstrates clearly how easily
we are willing to treat addicts as less than citizens, less deserving from
the protection of law than others, and less than human.

My hope, as one of many who works day in and out with those that use IV
drugs, is that those that don't feel comfortable using violence against
their neighbours who have addictions look for other solutions. I would
suggest you contact community-based addiction programs that strive to work
together to provide adequate services for addicts and meet the needs of the
rest of the community.

What this article illustrated were the core reasons that addictions affect
us all so profoundly as a community, namely, that stigma, intolerance and
ignorance around the wider community toward addicts is commonplace. Until
we see addicts and neighbours rather than targets, we will not, as a
community, achieve any solutions.

Chris Schmidt, Victoria.