Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2003
Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 Illawarra Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.illawarramercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/205
Author: Paul McInerney
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

DRUG POLICY SPLIT

DR Alexander Leach believes there is a major gap between society's
sanctimonious approach to illicit drug use and the reality.

As the former director of the Illawarra Drug and Alcohol Service and now one
of a growing number of addiction specialist physicians in private practice,
Dr Leach has spent years on the front-line.

He believes some of the Greens' drugs policies, now at the centre of much
public debate, deserve serious consideration.

"In many ways, the Greens are at least trying to address the reality," he
said yesterday.

"Prohibition is not working, the sanctimonious line put forward by
governments isn't working, and there is some merit in the view that the
personal use of drugs should be decriminalised and most of the treatment
field would agree with that.

"I have worked in a medically regulated and controlled environment that
deals with narcotics and it is a field that resists control and regulation.

"Drugs have become the great emotional salvers of our age."

He said he had "agonised" over the issue of controlled heroin shooting
galleries before coming to the conclusion that they had many advantages.

And Dr Leach said he did not agree with the Greens advocating an extension
of the needle and syringe exchange program to include wide bore needles.

They were banned three years ago to stop addicts injecting themselves with
methadone syrup.

"Introducing them again would be a mistake because I have seen them abused
by heroin addicts," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk