| Tragically
and by coincidence, the cover image for this book is:
The Ritual, 1986 (detail) by Howard Arkley who died
of a heroin overdose in July of this year.
Heroin
Crisis is a collection of essays around the issues
of drug abuse. Many of the essays reiterate much that
has been said and printed before BUT these messages
have to be repeated, screamed and hammered until they
have made an impact on people in a position to initiate
change. As usual, facts and figures are quoted by
people on different sides of the political fence to
support their arguments. And, as usual, the facts
and figures purport to be about the same studies.
(In
one's best Richard Ackland voice):
Goodness!
Is someone lying? Is someone fudging facts and figures?
Are we talking about the same Swiss models? the same
Swedish experiences? the same USA . . . ?'
Sarcasm
aside (a last resort tool), I found these essays interesting
reading. So many aspects of the debates, so many points
of view for people to consider and make up their own
minds. Instead of clouding the issues for me, they
clarified the way I perceive them, as well as enlightening
me on points I had not contemplated before.
Of
particular interest were two essays: What if saying
`No' just doesn't work? by Paul McDonald about the
special situation of the very young, i.e. twelve to
eighteen years of age being caught up in addiction.
And Heroin Use as Self-Medication by Peter Norden
about the special relationship between drug abuse
and mental illness.
Even
the foreword by politician, Barry Jones, is a worthy
contribution. Every word in Heroin Crisis.
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