I am grateful to Drs. Dorenbos that for more than a year he has accepted the threat of drug addiction to young people as a pro life issue and consequently has became the Coordinator of the movement, Concerned Citizens with international contacts. The pro-life movement is based on fundamental principles of law which are laid down by our Creator to prevent it from chaos; the principle one being the respect for life of humanity that is created in His image. This work of the law is written in the hearts of men (Romans 2:15).

Today, 50 years after the giving of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we see what was written as law in our hearts is often stressed here as human rights. The influence of the French Revolution can be detected. As a pro-life movement, we should stress the references in the Declaration to our duties.The Declaration begins with the recognition of the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of men and women. And in its next to last Article, the Declaration states duties of each one towards the community. As we people have inherent dignity we have the obligation to respect the lives of others and our own lives. That is what is meant in Article 3, “right of life”.^[1]

But if we continue to talk about “rights”, we weaken our issue as others start talking about a “right” to die. The vocabulary of rights gives fuel to man’s desire for autonomy, the root of ethical decline of our time.

Increasing Menace to the Life of Young People by Drugs

It is quite clear, certainly here in the Netherlands, that we are in the midst of the battle as written in the letter to the Ephesians: “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Dutch youth is severely attacked by different sorts of bondage and if the downfall of the spiral is not halted, it will drag European youth at large, down with it.

Autonomy of man is propagated.The pro-life movement has disclosed it with regard to killing of the unborn, and with regard to killing the invalid or ill and/or the elderly ( I do not use the word “euthanasia” as that hides the reality of killing/ murder). The pro-life movement, in general, did not immediately see that the lives of our youth are threatened by drugs. Reason for blindness is probable that we hear a lot of talk about “recreational” and “sensible” use of drugs, but not about the addictive character of these substances. However, as this development continues, life expectation for many young persons will be shortened. We are now hearing that heroine addicts in their fifties, to be submitted to an old folks home! We badly need the help of the medical profession to open our eyes to what is going on.

In this case, the desire for autonomy -- “I have a right to enjoy” -- destroys the youth. The threat, when redefined, is really seen as “an angel of light” (it seems beneficial but is not). It started in the Netherlands with tolerance of hashish, as if it were “soft drugs”; thus, it was made available in coffee shops. But we are already much and much further along with true experience. At house parties, ecstasy tablets are so called “tested” then returned to their owners with all the psychiatric consequences. Also dealers in drugs are left alone when keeping quietly to a fixed client group. Users’ rooms are tolerated as long as there is not a public nuisance. This is what is done: hiding up from the street, but in the meantime, the cancer continues by usury (“drugs deps”).

There is high concern given at the moment, to heroin experiments. It started with about 50 addicts in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The government agreed recently to an extension which means 750 participants expanded to four other cities. And where is the medical profession while all this is going on? In the Netherlands, only Dr. Gunning (as far as we know), warns the population openly. Twenty years ago, the biggest doctors association in the Netherlands was still warning. But now, all is silent on the medical front and the national medical mental service (GGD) continues its experiments.

Curiosity under the cloak of science does not allow itself to stop. Heroin is a poison. The substance has not changed in those 20 years, but it seems to have been forgotten that it is an extremely addictive substance and for addicts, there can never be enough. They participate in the experiments but, we can’t say by their total free will: heroin offered to a heroin addict?! If we do not stop the spread of these experiments over the whole of Europe, than those who initiate and propagate the legalization of drugs are using these experiments as a step. If we want to avoid that, it is a matter of immediate urgency that those in the medical professions who already see the danger unite and let their warnings based on facts, be heard far and wide. We, in the Netherlands alone, can’t achieve this.

Yesterday, someone spoke about challenging the medical profession. Well, this is an extremely urgent challenge. Only they can confront those medical doctors who, perhaps in quite good faith, continue to promote these experiments. But from the psychiatrists in Switzerland (whom we know as friends), several are worried, like dr. Schreiber in Germany, an expert par excellence. We ask you -- do unite with others for a clear statement which will save these bound addicts from remaining prisoners awaiting their deaths.^[2] Of course, the medical profession is highly busy, but are there not retired medical experts? It is a matter of life and death for Europe.

For two items, we have to be very, very grateful that history developed in such a way that drugs were put under the control of international conventions. We have stuck to them much more strictly. The conventions serve to protect youth. The moment we let drugs free to circulate (“sensible” drug use), the more underground crime comes openly to the surface as “legal” crime.

Help by Ex-Addicts Victory Outreach

What we need now is the help of ex-addicts to join the fight. The experience of experts par excellence. Therefore, I am most grateful to introduce now to you, Victory Outreach (VO). As Godsend, they came over to Europe, to our country, invited urgently by one person. In their movement, we see before our eyes “treasures out of darkness”.

Some years ago, one heavy addict in the gang-infested neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, California, became a preacher. And a miracle: other addicts were touched and also became preachers, About 800 VO churches all over the world in big cities, arose. Victory Outreach has a vision for addicts. This got nearly lost in our country as one constantly hears a lot of “just help them to handle their addiction as easily as possible”. But Victory Outreach is called to pull addicts away totally, with God’s help, as “treasures” out of darkness. What I do hope and pray and wish is that you as pro-life persons and you as medical scientists will join your hearts and medical knowledge to their work.^[3]

Appeal to Help European Youth

It is a question of life and death for youth in European countries or in those of European origin, and the generation born out of them. Do not forget: the spear of crime is directed at that youth: European or of European origin, they themselves being unaware of it.

May the Lord help us all to pull “treasures out of darkness” and to inspire our authorities to it.

Jkvr.dr. E. de Marees van Swinderen

Notes

1 Some examples in which instead of right to life, the right to have it respected is mentioned. For example,

· the American Convention for the Rights of Man (ACRM, in frame of OAS,1969;

Article 5, “Right to Humane Treatment”: 1.”Every person has the right to have his physical, mental and moral integrity respected.”

· The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981)

Article 4, Human Beings are Inviolable, “Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person. No one can be arbitrarily deprived of this right.”

Article 5. “Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and to the recognition of his legal status. All forms of exploitation and degradation of man, particularly slavery, slave trade, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment shall be prohibited.”

2 Later in the lobbies of the conference, the basis was laid down for such a medical declaration of international scope.

3 Arguinzoni,Sonny & Julie. Treasures out of Darkness., New Leaf Press, P.O.Box 2828, La Puente, CA 91746