Sensationalism no way to fight drug addiction

by Andrew Macintosh in The Age

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Originally published in The Age on March 20, 2007

Drugs policy arouses strong emotions. People see drug users and fear the unknown. The traditional response from politicians, particularly conservatives, has been to exploit these fears for political gain. The outcome has been an over-reliance on law enforcement as a means of stamping out both the supply and use of harmful drugs. It is hoped there will come a time when enough politicians recognise that drug use disorders are a health problem that cannot be solved by harsh drug laws or sensationalised advertising.

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