The use of heroin has been a long standing problem in society and nothing is

going to change. Despite popular belief, it is here to stay. Since the strategy of herointrials has been proposed it has brought out negative views suggesting that it is thewrong approach. Then what is the right approach? Continue twiddling or thumbs and crossing our fingers in the hope that the occasional heroin 'bust' will do something more than put a scratch in the solid foundation that is the illicit drug trade? This will simply fail. Another approach must be taken which recognises the needs of addicts who have been unable to quit their habit. As Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Mr. Neil Comrie states "We live

in a drug taking society"(1). If we could just accept this as a fact then we could begin to act accordingly. In conjunction with current methods, heroin injecting rooms and distribution trials have the potential to considerably harm the street drug trade and crush the increasing drug-related death rate. These rooms would offer a clean environment and a healthier option for addic

ts rather that them having to shoot up in a back alleyway or some vile public toilet. Dr Alex Wodak, President of the Australian Drug Law Reform, said "Illicit drug use needs to be treated primarily as a health rather than a law enforcement issue"(2). This is true, these people suffer from a disease, they need help and a supportive shoulder to lean on, not a jail cell. The 'zero tolerance' scheme turns sick people into criminals, this is not the right way to address the problem. Australia spends over thirteen billion annually on alcohol and tobacco alone, both are potential death traps, both capable of addiction, both legal. Hypocrites. If we are willing to accept those in society with such vile habits, why are we not willing to help those heroin addicts in need? If there was another option they would take it. Many have tried drug alternatives, rehabilitation clinics, but eventually they go shamefully back to their addiction. There are over one-thousand chemists who will not even stock the heroin alternative, methadone, so what are the addicts suppose to do? It seems they are to wait until they are arrested and thrown into a jail cell, or die.

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Some common words found in the essay are:
Reform Illicit, , Neil Comrie, heroin trials, heroin addicts, heroin users, heroin trails, drug trade, jail cell, illicit drug,
Approximate Word count = 784
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)