| It
is very sad to read a book written by someone who means
well and obviously is sincere in his opinions, but who
is so out of touch with reality and so uncharitable
of others who do not share his prohibitionist hard line
views.
His book contains some truths, i.e. youth will experiment
with drugs, that abuse of drugs causes problems, that
there are dangers implicit in the use of illegal drugs.
It also contains some dangerous and unproven assertions)that
there is an easy progression from tobacco to cannabis
to hard drugs, that cannabis can and has caused psychotic
illness and leads to violence, suicide or homicide,
that methadone is more dangerous than heroin when
used with other drugs. There are also unfortunately
outright lies)that proponents of harm minimisation
actively promote and encourage drugs use and that
in drug education, children are not warned about the
danger and side effects and illegality of the use
of various illicit drugs.
The book is highly simplistic and although the moral
principles it embraces are a valid addition to the
opinions on the drug debate, the lack of tolerance
and compassion which so often epitomises authors such
as Athol Moffitt is so apparent to any educated reader.
It relies solely on anecdotal evidence and questionable
sources as the basis of its evidence. Parents are
advised to read Paula Goodyear's Kids and Drugs as
a far more balanced and realistic approach to drug
use in young people. The tragedy is that many parents
without a sound knowledge of the subject will swallow
the opinions of a respected retired judge of the Supreme
Court.
Tony
Trimingham
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