Pubdate: Sun, 25 Jun 2000
Source: Melbourne Weekly (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 The Text Media Group Ltd
Contact:  +61 3 9272 4739
Address: 171 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: http://www.textmedia.com.au/tmw_fset.html
Author: Bonnie Palmer

HAVE SOME COMPASSION

Opponents of safe injecting rooms probably don't realise they are most
likely closer to the problem than if there was a safe injecting facility in
their neighbourhood. Heroin is everywhere - yes, even on your street.

My sister is a heroin addict and has been for many years. I have suffered
along with her for all this time and I'm only 19. Every day I think of her
overdosing or contracting a deadly disease from a dirty needle. I accept my
sister is a drug addict . . . but I don't accept she should have to die
because of it and never will.

If you can't bring yourself to care for addicts, then think of their
families, their friends, all the people who die a little bit inside when
they hear of another overdose. Countless lives are resting on the outcome of
this proposal. The longer it takes to be accepted, the more of these lives
will be lost. They can't live with that. Can you?

Bonnie Palmer, Prahran
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