Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2008
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2008 New Zealand Herald
Contact: http://info.nzherald.co.nz/letters/
Website: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

GIVE ECSTASY TO 'STRESSED TROOPS' - AUSSIE MP

ADELAIDE - The drug ecstasy could be used by war veterans to alleviate
stress, says an Australian Democrats MP.

South Australian Democrat Sandra Kanck says the drug's key ingredient,
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), could be used to alleviate
post-traumatic stress disorders.

"This is not a new idea, it is being trailed in the United States and
Israel for war veterans and in Spain for rape victims," she said in a
statement.

"It's not a frivolous idea.

"Studies by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2003 and 2007 have
shown that post-traumatic stress is a real issue for veterans of the
Gulf and Vietnam wars.

"Veterans, like other Australians, are already being prescribed
powerful drugs like highly addictive morphine for pain relief and
benzodiazepines for post traumatic stress disorder - both are
potentially addictive and dangerous drugs.

"Most drugs can be dangerous but if they are used in a controlled way
they can be medically beneficial."

SA Veteran's Affairs Minister Michael Atkinson has dismissed Ms
Kanck's suggestion the government should look at her proposal.

But Ms Kanck said: "If Michael Atkinson really cared about veterans he
would look into any proposal that might help them and their families.

"He is either too superstitious to consider the science and the
evidence or he is playing cynical politics."

In 2006, Ms Kanck was roundly criticised after telling parliament
there was no evidence to suggest MDMA was dangerous.

She also said if she had a choice between attending a rave party or a
hotel bar, she would "go to the rave party every time".

Ms Kanck also advocated giving MDMA to traumatised victims of the 2005
Eyre Peninsula bushfires, which killed nine people.

Ms Kanck, a member of SA's Legislative Council since 1993, said those
comments were taken out of context and she had been talking of
therapeutic use of MDMA, not the use of backyard-manufactured ecstasy.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake