ENABLING ADDICTS DOESN'T HELP THEM

Re: "Attack heroin addiction through compulsory detox," Nov. 27.

We are a society of enablers. We enable by providing people who
indulge in self-destructive behavior the means to continue their behavior.

And we do not act on solutions offered by people who have worked hard
for many years to come up with workable solutions that could save
lives and the taxpayers' money.

David Staples' suggestion of compulsory treatment needs to be given a
try. People who cannot help themselves would be better served by
pressure to change their destructive behavior if given an incentive.

Enabling them is no incentive. Compulsory detox repeated as many
times as needed to achieve functional behavior sounds like a workable solution.

Elly Linekin,

Victoria.