Pubdate: Wed, 28 Oct, 1998 Source: Herald Sun (Australia) Page: 20 Copyright: News Limited 1998 Contact: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ Author: Barry Kearney FIGHT BACK, SAY NO TO DRUGS CONGRATULATIONS to federal and state police for recent success in making many arrests and confiscating millions of dollars of drugs. Despite these great successes, people are still calling for free access to heroin for addicts. I understand their argument concerning crime and safety, but it does not stand up to any realistic scrutiny. If free heroin is to be supplied to addicts, is there to be an age limit? Will we give free heroin to 14-year-olds? Will their parents be told? If only addicts are receiving free heroin, will casual users accelerate their use and declare themselves addicts to obtain free access? Will free supply for addicts condemn users to a life controlled by drugs? What about ecstasy and LSD, now widely available and used by teenagers? Will they be free as well? Will there be an age limit? Do we really want a society whose pathetic response to drug dealers making millions of dollars destroying the minds and bodies of our youth is to give free drugs to those at the bottom of the barrel? Only when drugs are not available, will young people become drug free. It is pointless spending millions of dollars on anti-drug campaigns while drug pushers rule the streets, schools and entertainment venues. Let's get serious and allocate more money to apprehending drug dealers. Barry Kearney, Park Orchards - --- Checked-by: Patrick Henry