Pubdate: Wed, 22 Sep 2004
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News
Contact:  http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283
Author: Andrew Arthur

BLACK MARKET BECKONS

Crime is down, hails the government. Millions of dollars well spent on 
improving our police force.

This assumption forgets that opiate programs are available in Darwin.

Addicts can register and receive a daily dose. Now that could be a big 
incentive not to turn to a life of crime.

Addicts are desperate people, and will do desperate acts, sometimes quite 
out of character, to get their next hit.

The Government has recognised this and to its credit, it has introduced 
medical programs to legally provide opiates to addicts.

The outrageous number of busts on Darwin amphetamine labs in the past few 
months, the continuing persecution of marijuana users and small-time 
dealers, , the huge busts of ecstasy tablets, imported heroin and cocaine, 
show clearly that illicit drug use in Australia will not go away, no matter 
how much money the Government will throw at it.

When will we have a Government leader that will actually lead? Accept the 
hard realisation that the war on drugs is lost. This will then mean the 
money could be spent on actually minimising the harm these drugs do.

Money to spend on education, medical programs and dry-out facilities.

The extra pressure the Government is placing on local doctors not to 
prescribe opiates to those in need will drive more people into the black 
market and add to the number of burglaries and robberies.

It shows just how out of touch the politicians really are, and questions 
their motivations.

Andrew Arthur, Millner
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D