Efforts to combat drug abuse require a balance between personal liberty and social responsibility People have been taking drugs for no good medical reason since the dawn of history. For just as long, other people have raged against that. The official attitude to drugs can seem mysterious at first glance. For example, numerous drugs are illegal while tobacco, a known killer, is distributed legally. Television advertising of alcohol is okay but tobacco is not. Leaving a 13-year-old alone at home is an offence but poisoning infants by smoking in confined spaces is not. [continues 632 words]
Mr Delamere said New Zealand drug policies aim to reduce the harm caused by drug-taking, as well as trying to stop it happening. For example, our needle-swapping scheme has kept the HIV infection rate amongst drug users one of the lowest anywhere. This contrasts with the United States "war on drugs" approach, which sees needle exchange as condoning drug use. The United Nations has recognised the need for alternative economic development in drug-producing countries and reduction of demand in consuming countries. [continues 62 words]
