From: [w--w--s] at [ihug.co.nz] (SyntaX)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs,alt.drugs.hard
Subject: Re: Heroin is more harmful Prohibited  (Re: James DiGriz (was Re: Drug legalization...)
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 1996 22:32:15 GMT

>>>JEREMY CLITHEROW, former Chairman, National Pharmaceutical
>>>Association:
>>>        In small doses and in pure composition, heroin is, according
>>>to textbook, a remarkably safe drug.
>>>
>>>Dr. JEFFREY MARKS:
>>>        Yes, they are addicted to it and have to have it to feel
>>>normal, but you can give somebody heroin for the rest of their lives
>>>and it will do them no harm at all.
>>>It has no long-term, serious side effects at all.

Having been a long-term heroin addict I can testify to the
non-toxicity of the drug.
What kills is...

1. Inconsistancy of dose

2. Additives ("cut")

3. Sharing needles/Dirty needles

4. Prostitution/Burglaries



THESE are the killers. Heroin in a in a clean, consistant, dose is NOT
harmful to the body.

We have a needle exchange program in New Zealand and our AIDS rate for
IV users has dropped right away. AIDS is now more pevalent in the
hetero world.

We are also considering a Heroin program as the figures for other
areas that have tried this are encouraging to say the least. In most
areas up to 90% of addicts stopped any crimminal activity.

I for one was carrying on a normal life, ie working, paying the bills,
bringing up my family, when I was able to get heroin uncut and at a
reasonable price. It wasn't till the late 70s that things started to
turn to shit, with the criminal element seeing the huge profits to be
made from cutting and selling it.

Many of the people I went to school with became  heavy drinkers. I
don't drink. When these people see me they almost always remark how
fit and healthy, and how young I look for my age. 

There are thousands of people in Asian countries who have been using
Opium and Heroin for scores of years with NO ill affects..

It's time the govts of the world wake up and realise the two most
dangerous drugs are Tobacco and Alcohol. I would even go so far as to
state Heroin is less harmful than Marijuana.

I don't propose full legalisation, but, we must see that the war on
drugs is over..IT HAS BEEN LOST. If we are really serious and want to
end the huge profits and criminal activity not to mention the toll in
human life, (because of the illegality) involved in the distribution
of it we must seriously re-consider our anti-drug mind-set.

The Crime is the Law NOT the Drug