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

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wednesday, 08 February 2006
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Robert Fyffe
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au