In article  cynic_999@yahoo.co.uk writes:

>If a heroin addict has access to an affordable, clean supply of heroin
>at an affordable price, there is no reason to believe that they would
>ruin their lives at all.  There is certainly less chance of that
>happening than a tobacco addict or an alcohol addict.

As has been shown by heroin trials in Switzerland and Germany.

Note that not all addicts will become productive citizens given safe, legal
access to their drug of choice, but a significant percentage of heroin addicts
in fact are able and motivated to find work and hold down a productive job
even while addicted.

Keeping drugs illegal ensures that drug seeking takes a significant portion
of an addict's time and resources.  Remove the difficulty of finding and
procuring, and keeping a ready supply becomes no more difficult than ensuring
one has enough coffee, milk and sugar.

Also, addicts aren't high all the time.  A maintenance dose just keeps an
addict "normal".

-Pete Zakel
 (phz@seeheader.nospam)

	FIGHTING WORDS

    Say my love is easy had,
	Say I'm bitten raw with pride,
    Say I am too often sad --
	Still behold me at your side.

    Say I'm neither brave nor young,
	Say I woo and coddle care,
    Say the devil touched my tongue --
	Still you have my heart to wear.

    But say my verses do not scan,
	And I get me another man!

			-Dorothy Parker