(This is a guest post from Dr. Michael Keane, a friend and fellow Libertarian)

In light of the Ben Cousins documentary, there needs to be some clarification about what actions and behaviours people are and are not responsible for when taking drugs.

As opposed to the many highly functional business executives, doctors, lawyers, trades people, artists, police officers, service employees, farmers, small business owners etc who use these drugs, most of the harm that befell Ben was due to behaviour for which he should be held responsible for.

In fact the vast majority of users of these drugs do not act as recklessly as Ben. In this context, readers might appreciate clarification about the extent to which behaviours can be explained on a “disease” versus that of culpable lack of responsibility.

A number of quotes from Ben demonstrate that his actions were not due to a “disease.” They were essentially due to dysfunctional behaviour due to decisions he made.

Ultimately, people do have the option of whether to take drugs or not. Yes, some people are pre-disposed to have strong urges to take drugs. Some people experience intense feelings of internal turmoil for which drugs give temporary relief.  We should be very sympathetic to their plight and offer help. However, if drug use is hurting their lives, they have a responsibility to get help; not selfishly continue what they are doing and then blame it on “my drug disease”.

This is similar to the scandal whereby people are let off violent crime because they have a “drug problem.”

From a pharmacological, ethical, moral and philosophical perspective, taking these drugs is no different to drinking alcohol.

In this context we should not punish people who use drugs but are otherwise good citizens. We should however punish people who commit crime whether they take drugs or not. Criminal activity is not part of a “disease”; that’s a cop out.

About Dr Michael Keane

Dr Michael Keane is a consultant anaesthetist and bioethicist. He is also a National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) funded researcher into illicit drugs.

He holds the following positions:

Lecturer in public health at Monash University

Researcher at Swinburne University’s Brain Sciences Institute

Researcher at the University of Adelaide

There should be a common sense resolution to the issue of heroin injecting rooms which minimises harm to heroin users but also protects the public from crime. What we need is an enlightened but responsible response.

1) Why support injecting rooms?

Heroin injecting rooms:

• will prevent overdoses and help minimise harm;
• reduce pressure on ambulance and paramedic services that will free them up to attend other calls;
• reduce the number of used syringes that are left in public places;
• enable heroin users to be in contact with health services and to promote programs to help end heroin dependency

2) With rights comes responsibility

The use of, or withdrawal from, heroin is not an excuse for committing violent or property crime. Heroin does not stop you knowing right from wrong and you maintain responsibility for your behaviour.

We should not spend valuable police resources on those people who merely take heroin and don’t hurt others. We should offer these poor souls help to end what is a terrible existence.

We should however, protect the community from those who do the wrong thing and commit crime. Heroin users who commit violent crime or serious property crime should be held accountable and not be given a free pass.

The debate has been hijacked by those who only see one side of the issue. On the one hand there are many who want to take a “tough on drugs” stance. On the other side are those who refuse to hold accountable the minority of heroin users who commit crime; they wrongly excuse crime on the users “disease”.

If a heroin user steals a car or assaults someone, they should be properly identified as a criminal. If their crime is treated as a “disease” then the public is understandably going to want to take a “tough on drugs” stance against all people who take heroin.

Dependency on heroin can be thought of as a disease and we should show compassion and help those afflicted. But crime against others is not a disease. Criminals should be held accountable before the law.

For those interested in more information on the science behind:

• the basis for holding heroin users accountable for their behaviour;
• the reason why the vast majority of the population would not become addicted to heroin even if laws were relaxed

About Dr Michael Keane

Dr Michael Keane is a consultant anaesthetist and bioethicist. He is also a National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) funded researcher into illicit drugs.

He holds the following positions:

Lecturer in public health at Monash University

Researcher at Swinburne University’s Brain Sciences Institute

Researcher at the University of Adelaide