Make Ecstasy Legal

A PROMINENT Perth social worker believes the State Government should consider making illegal drugs such as ecstasy available over the counter.

Reverend George Davies, a consultant with Perth Inner City Youth Service, said the use of ecstasy was widespread in the local community.

He said the legalisation of ecstasy would eliminate backyard manufacturers who often added products such as heroin, animal anaesthetics, pesticides and cough suppressants to the drug.

Use of the drug has been particularly high in the past two weeks during millennium celebrations.

Rev. Davies believes the community should approach the issue with a sense of urgency.

"I think the Government has to look at the situation and realise we could offer the drug in a controlled environment, without taking risks buying from backyard manufacturers," he said.

"The drug is becoming ingrained in our culture, with younger people taking it to relieve stress and to allow them to rage all night."

Rev. Davies said educating young people about the dangers associated with drugs failed to make an impression on them.

"Younger people would have more respect for politicians and authority figures if they thought they were trying different things to help out youth by doing something radical like legalising softer drugs," he said.

Rev. Davies has questioned the recent police crackdown on the importation of ecstasy, saying that harder drugs would fill the vacuum left by the lack of ecstasy. "This already happened when there was a crackdown on marijuana," he said.

"The problem became magnified as suppliers began to increase the amount of amphetamines and harder drugs."

Rev. Davies said legalising ecstasy would also mean it would be easier to keep track of its demand in Perth.

Royal Perth Hospital emergency department staff have been working overtime since New Year’s Eve dealing with a number of ecstasy overdose victims.

A hospital spokeswoman said there had been a surprisingly high number of people seeking treatment since New Year’s Eve.