Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jul 2000
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Author: B. McConnell, President, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform

DEFERRAL WIDENS A DEADLY GAP FOR ADDICTS

IVAN HOY (CT, July 6) poses the almost irrelevant question about how 
"addicts'' will get to an injecting room. This question would have been 
answered by the injecting room trial but is irrelevant at the moment 
because the trial has been sidelined by the Assembly crossbenchers, 
Rugendyke and Osborne.

However, if he had noted Mr Rugendyke's contemptuous views on drug 
dependent people he might choose that as an answer: ''The drug users that I 
know don't even have the capacity to clean their teeth in the morning let 
alone know how to work out how to get a bus to where this thing might be" 
(CT, June 30).

In reality many find their way into Civic. The CEO of ADDInc advised on ABC 
radio yesterday that injecting drug users collect their syringes, leave the 
building and use in some secret place, sometimes nearby. Of those who get 
into trouble with the drug some are fortunate enough to have a friend who 
finds them to take them back where they are looked after by ADDInc.

Sometimes providing resuscitation, sometimes calling an ambulance, but most 
often simply caring for them.

But sadly with the deferral of the injecting room trial this deadly gap in 
the service will now continue to exist.

B McCOnnell President, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Higgins
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