People on methadone programs should be kept out of the public eye or given a lethal dose, according to  South Australia's Port Lincoln Mayor Peter Davis.

Mr Davis said drug addiction was a self-inflicted problem and 'either they help themselves or as far as I'm concerned the sooner they're buried the better' (Port Lincoln Times, ‘Mayor wants methadone out of public eye’, 27.06.06)

Readers expressed distress and concern at the comments, which were perceived as perpetuating a culture of blame. 

StigmaWatch wrote to Mr Davis providing information about the complex issues of substance abuse and mental illness, and calling for steps to reduce stigma.