Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We have debated this problem on many occasions over the years and nobody has the answer. In the developed western world there is more and more use and misuse of drugs, and hard drugs have become recreational drugs for many and have become part of their lives.

We have to think differently about how we approach the question of drugs, although I do not think this will happen. I want to raise some issues that need to be addressed and challenged and do not expect anybody to agree with me. We should be absolutely honest about some of the issues involved. The first thing we should do in most of our advertising is concede the fact that tobacco is more addictive than heroin. I have never seen any public statement to this effect but it is the reality. All studies have proven this and those who were addicted to both will confirm it. It is harder to kick a tobacco habit than a heroin habit.

We need to remember that heroin does not necessarily kill people. Heroin addicts who die tend to die not so much from heroin but from dirty needles and the kind of lifestyle and life of crime that accompany drugs misuse.