Challenge of addiction

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33541, 23 May 1974, Page 14

Challenge of addiction

Alcoholism and drug addiction present a very grave and ever increasing challenge and the, sooner we recognise that the sooner will the resources and changed attitudes to deal effectively with it be forthcoming, the Minister of Police and Customs (Mr Connelly) said last evening.

Mr Connelly, who was speaking at the annual meeting of the Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society of

Canterbury and Westland, said that alcoholism was not the problem of a misguided few, but the personal concern of more than 30,000 New Zealanders at all levels of our social structure.

“Our concern is not solely for the so-called ‘dead-beats,’ the old laggard for whom a park bench substitutes for a bed, or the unkempt unfortunates who clammer for the succour provided by various welfare organisations,” he said. He said that if we have a mental picture of the sum total of grief, sadness, injury, financial and social loss, that 30,000 alcoholics in this country can produce, then why are we so little concerned. “It is because of our familiarity and tolerance of alcohol as part of our social life?” asked Mr Connelly.

Mr Connelly said that seven years ago the number of person charged with drug offences reached a total of 28. Last year, the total was 1092, many on “hard” drugs. “Quite obviously, in the intervening years, offences have shown a tendency to almost double. Simple arithmetic suggests a somewhat frightening prospect if this

trend continues. Added to this is another very unpalatable fact. Of the total number of persons charged with drug offences, 936 or 85 per cent were in the age group 25 years and under. Two indeed were just 14 years old,” said Mr Connelly.

He said that there- had been uncertainty about the effect of drugs on people physiologically and otherwise but modern research findings are now removing that uncertainty. A recent report of the University of Columbia Research Project on cannabis said that cannabis was harmful and further scientific studies reveal the first direct evidence of cellular damage in humans from marijuana.

“It has become fashionable in some quarters to deride the concern being expressed about the rising tide of drug offences,” he said.

“DEBIT ENTRIES” He said that in much the same way as the involuntary conduct of - the alcoholic brings sadness, social isolation, sickness and financial loss to himself, his community, and indeed his counfact exist,” said Mr Connelly, debit entries be made in the ledger of the drug addict. Mr Connelly pointed out some methods of dealing with the problems but said success often was reliant on the voluntary acceptance of the help offered. “Widespread public help must be given and this must commence with an appreciation that a challenge does in fact exist,” siad Mr Connelly.