Pubdate: Thu, 15 Apr 1999
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: News Limited 1999
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Author: Andrew Byrne

INTERDEPENDENT

Kim Beazley said that no one group has a monopoly on wisdom relating
to drug addiction.  He is quite right, of course, but in most other
health fields there is a peak body, a royal college or similar
institution, that would certainly claim such wisdom among its members.

In his comprehensive response to the drug crisis, Prime Minister
Howard should support the establishment of such a body for dependency,
including all drugs of addiction.

Members would be drawn from the various fields of addiction treatment
and would be committed to scientific research and the implementation
of this knowledge in government and community responses.

Dr ANDREW BYRNE
Redfern, NSW
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