Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Copyright: 2013 News Limited
Contact: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/readers-comments
Website: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/113
Author: Gary Christian
Page: 30

ILLEGAL DRUGS KILL USERS AND SOCIETY

Alcohol policy research director Robin Room (July 10) says his drive
to legalise cannabis is driven by his deep concerns about the damage
done by the legal drug alcohol.

There is one death for every 320 alcoholics and other problem users of
alcohol each year. Heroin kills one in every 100 users from overdose,
plus other ways it kills.

Alcohol does so much damage in Australia because 80 per cent of
Australians use it. Less than 3 per cent use heroin, speed, ice,
cocaine and ecstasy, and 10 per cent use cannabis. These drugs are
used less precisely because they are illegal.

They are illegal because they are very harmful and not yet entrenched
like alcohol and tobacco. Legalisation would entrench them. Cannabis
causes similar harms to alcohol in intoxication, is implicated in car
accidents and decreased fertility. It increases the risk of psychosis,
depression and a motivational syndrome no parent wants their child
challenged with. Cannabis harms verbal learning, organisation and
co-ordination, memory and attention - great for teens.

Then add harms such as bronchitis and respiratory cancers. The public
health system is under enough stress from alcohol and tobacco. Why add
significantly more by legalising more drugs?

Gary Christian Drug Free Australia, Ourimbah
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MAP posted-by: Matt