8. Drug Watch - You Be The Judge...

Should society provide clean needles to injecting drug addicts to prevent the spread of AIDS? How this problem is resolved will profoundly affect the lives of millions of people. We need not choose between a drug epidemic and an AIDS epidemic- WE CAN DEFEAT BOTH!

• Society must be clear and consistent in its demands that addicts seek immediate treatment.
• When drugs are socially acceptable and easily available, they are widely consumed
• The life of the IV drug addict is threatened twice - by overdose or by contracting AIDS.
• Drugs affect the immune system's ability to resist infection
• Is giving away needles a message of approval of illicit drug use?
• Will drug dependency escalate?
• Will it prevent drug users from facing their problems?
• Will it reduce the spread of AIDS from addicts to non-drug users?
• Will it alter irresponsible sexual behaviour?
• Will it promote promiscuity and prostitution as a means of earning money for drugs?
• Is this sound medical practice?
• Will it contribute to spiralling health costs?
• Will physical and medical sickness increase?
• Will it alter irresponsible and antisocial behaviour of crime and violence?
• Is this an attempted quick fix to a complex problem?
• How can legislators take actions which are supportive of an illegal act?

Drugs are illiegal because they are dangerous - They are not dangerous because they are illegal.