Islamic addiction to violence and holy killing by its great prophet is not equal to alcohol and heroin addiction . The Christian governor was lucky to survive the recent election but may still die for his religious convictions . Lenin said it's the opiate of the people (which has 2 meanings) but they still shot down the Russian church.
Organised Islam can blow your mind.

Shadow Minister, heroin is not allowed to be used in any form in Australia. In some countries, such as the UK, it is allowed to be used under strict conditions. If you have evidence to the contrary then feel free to provide it.

And as I've made no 'absurd' claims I have nothing to substantiate.

o sung wu, understanding why people choose to use a particular drug, be it legal or illegal, is not making excuses. To believe so is simply foolish. It is is also foolish to not acknowledge the drug that causes the most deaths, contributes to violence of all types, destroys more lives and causes so many other negative issues than any other drug, is alcohol.

The real telling comment was this though; 'those sorry/silly/unfortunate souls, who for whatever reason, allow themselves to become addicted to the stuff without any regard to their own, or their parents humanity, they just die.' Nobody allows themselves to become an addict. To state that they do clearly disqualifies you from being able to contribute anything of informed intellectual validity.

Some people could be tricked by spiked drinks or could eat heroin-laced food. That's not their fault. I stopped smoking cigars in 1955 and always felt it was Not Good. All other drug taking is intentional .

Minotaur,

Thanks for admitting that you were wrong about the use of diamorphine as a painkiller. With regards the use of it in Australia, it is generally not used, but is not illegal, as indicated in these guidelines from the queensland government dated 2010:

"Firstly, the majority of drugs can be diluted with normal saline with only two exceptions: cyclizine and diamorphine (neither of which are commonly used in Australia);"

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/155495/guidelines.pdf

Perhaps you could rebut this by producing a gazetted document naming diamorphine as illegal to use by doctors or specialists. From what I can see diamorphine is schedule 8 drug (same as ritalin) which indicates that it is legal if prescribed by the appropriate certified specialists (not just doctors).

Clearly MINOTAUR, you live in this tiny sterile bubble of deniability if you claim Heroin is not addictive. With illicit drugs one can't possibly intellectualize away, their harmful or benign effects. Including the violence occasioned against many involved in the Drug Trade. If you continue to so, I suggest you pay a visit to Long Bay and have a chat with many of the victims and users of illicit drugs.

Perhaps then you should advance your position from a more pragmatic approach thus seeing the issue through less single issue perspective than this position you've now taken? Moreover, you mention something quite absurd inter alia; '...To state that 'they' (sic) do clearly disqualifies you from being able to contribute to anything of informed intellectual validity...'? MINOTAUR, I haven't a clue as to what it is you're trying to say other than perhaps?

I've no fundamental idea what it is I'm talking about. You may well be right, I'm a mere dullard, a regular blue collar (retired) worker. But who are you? How can anyone take you seriously, when you 'prattle on' about matters you've probably accrued from some repudiated, discarded publication dedicated to those unremarkable entities who frequent the sleazy drug world. As well as other intellectually challenged folk, who hang about listlessly looking for the meaning of life.

I would however agree that booze accounts for most violence against the person. Why, because it's legal, and freely available, and still reasonably priced. Whereas most people can afford to get pissed occasionally. Unlike regulated State sanctioned, interdiction of Drugs of addition.

Hello Shadow Minister, I haven't recanted from my position that the use of heroin is illegal in any circumstance in Australia. I did make the assumption that you were referring specifically to use in Australia though and responded accordingly. As noted, it is available in other countries and extensive research has been done in the UK as to its effectiveness in not only the treatment of pain but also assisting addicts to transition to recovery when made available via prescription.

Thank you for the link you sent but it as a rather lengthy document. Can you provide a more specific reference such as page number/s? I shall provide more journal/published evidence when back at my uni job and computer as that is where my research is done/stored. Great advantage that to a researcher as one does not have to pay to access journals and other sources.

In the interim, this what I have found without that access about the use of heroin in Australia (and as you want a verified source): 'Heroin was banned from legal prescription in Australia in 1953. Bans were brought about through international pressure. The use of heroin for any purpose is illegal in all states and territories in Australia'. Source: http://druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au/drugs-z-drugs/heroin

As that is a government based source I give it credibility.

Cheers Shadow Minister! Have a beer or wine too...and even a cigarette with either. Just don't get addicted to any of them ;)