Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2006
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Northern Territory News
Contact:  http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283
Author: Robert Fyffe

DRUG POLICY SIMPLY POTTY

I'M A person who smokes pot on a regular basis and has done so for 
about 30 years.

I've also spent most of that time working, paying tax and 
contributing to my town.

I smoked with people from all sectors of society - not just the 
junkies the government would have us believe are the only face of drug use.

I have shared smokes with judges/magistrates, police officers, 
members of the legal fraternity, doctors, politicians and ordinary, 
honest, hardworking people.

All of these people, like myself, were (and are), ordinary, honest, 
working taxpayers.

But our Government would have those who know little or nothing about 
drugs, other than alcohol, believe that we are all dangerous and 
desperate junkies, prone to psychotic outbursts.

What a load of rubbish.

Let the Government publicise the research papers showing the clear 
links between drug use and mental illness.

I think they cannot, as all they have is the anecdotal evidence from 
the various community organisations that have to deal with a small 
percentage of drug users with a substance abuse problem.

Substance abuse is a condition arising from deeper issues, that 
affects a small minority of drug users - and I include alcohol in all 
references to drugs.

All the people I know who have a serious problem with drug abuse have 
been placed in that situation by the general, and mental, health systems.

It seems the Government would rather demonise a fairly large sector 
of the community (about 30 per cent) in those of us who enjoy using a 
substance other than alcohol for our recreation. Rather than render 
effective health services to those who have a substance abuse problem.

I had hoped that the trend toward liberalism, that began in the '70s, 
would lead our governments to take a more mature approach to the 
issues of substance use as a social issue, and substance abuse as a 
health issue.

But it seems we'll be waiting a while before we see a government with 
the intestinal fortitude required to deal responsibly (not 
hysterically) with the issue.

Robert Fyffe

Rapid Creek
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman