DrugSense FOCUS Alert #156 January 24, 2000 Arizona Republic Catalogs Failures Of Drug War PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE Make Writing At Least One Letter a Week Your Commitment to Reform Together we ARE making a difference --- DrugSense FOCUS Alert # 156 January 24, 2000 The Arizona Republic featured more than a dozen articles on the drug war last week. The series started off with an unavoidable premise: The drug war has failed. In the introduction to the series, reporters get to the heart of the matter. "The truth is inescapable: The fight against narcotics, which costs Americans nearly $18 billion a year, is the nation's most failed police action since Vietnam." Throughout the week, the series demonstrated how astonishing profits help the drug war to corrupt society at many levels. Links to all the articles are available below. Unfortunately, the series stopped short of supporting a real solution to the problems, and advocates of serious reform were offered very little space to air their views. Instead, the wishy-washy implication of the series conclusion is that more access to treatment and the use of drug courts will help solve the problem. While that may be better than no changes at all, the series demonstrated repeatedly how black market money is as big a lure as drugs themselves for some who get tangled up in that world. Please write a letter to the Arizona Republic thanking the paper for reporting the failures of the drug war, but also to remind that more than a little tweaking is needed. It's time for a complete overhaul. Thanks for your effort and support. WRITE A LETTER TODAY It's not what others do it's what YOU do PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID (Letter, Phone, fax etc.) Please post a copy your letter or report your action to the sent letter list () if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to Your letter will then be forwarded to the list with so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit This is VERY IMPORTANT as it is the only way we have of gauging our impact and effectiveness. CONTACT INFO Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Contact: ARTICLE URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n103.a01.html Newshawk: Jo-D and Tom-E Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Copyright: 2000 The Arizona Republic Contact: Address: 200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 Website: http://www.azcentral.com/news/ Forum: http://www.azcentral.com/pni-bin/WebX?azc THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC'S A LOSING DRUG WAR SERIES INDEX About this series: During a seven-month investigation, Arizona Republic reporters spoke to dozens of drug officers, smugglers, counselors and residents on the Mexican border. The conclusion: We're losing the war on drugs. Day 1: Sunday, 16 Jan 2000 Introduction: A Losing Drug War http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n061/a08.html A Lost Cause? Questions Trump Answers In War On Drugs http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n062/a04.html More People, More Technology, More Danger http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n062/a03.html Day 2: Monday, 17 Jan 2000 The Drug Pipeline State Is Pipeline For Illegal Drugs http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n064/a07.html Eyes From Above Help In Flight http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n099/a01.html U.S. Customs Official Lives For The Thrill Of The Chase http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n068/a06.html Day 3: Tuesday, 18 Jan 2000 Traffickers' Tricks A Contest Of Wits At US Border http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n071/a03.html Smugglers Often Betray Themselves http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n099/a02.html Day 4: Wednesday, 19 Jan 2000 Old-Time Methods Old-Time Methods Have Place In Fight http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n095/a01.html Narcs Lie In Wait, Watching The Night For 'Contrabandistas' http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n095/a02.html Drug War Lost, Tucson Attorney Says http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n101/a01.html Day 5: Thursday, 20 Jan 2000 Two Go Bad Chance Led To Side Job As Arizona Drug Runner http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n099/a04.html Day 6: Friday, 21 Jan 2000 Phoenix Sting One Phoenix Sting Paid Off For Cops http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n093/a01.html Day 7: Saturday, 22 Jan 2000 Rehab Aid Money Targets Certain Demographic Groups http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n098/a10.html Everything's Different http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n095/a08.html Day 8: Sunday, 23 Jan 2000 Conclusion: Solutions Putting Years Of Drug Use Behind, With Help http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n102/a02.html Rebuilding Broken Families http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n101/a06.html SAMPLE LETTER (sent) To the Editor of the Arizona Republic: I applaud the Arizona Republic for exposing the failure of the war on drugs in its week long series. It is well past time to acknowledge not only that the drug war doesn't work, but that it causes more problems than it solves. That being said, I was very disappointed when I reached the conclusion of the series, which implied that more access to treatment and drug courts are going to improve the situation. While I agree those who think they need treatment should get it, there's a lot more going on here. To paraphrase a famous line about misconceptions: It's the black market economy, stupid. Pardon my rudeness, but the clues are glaring for those willing to see. One of the last stories, "Putting Years Of Drug Use Behind, With Help," seemed to suggest that drug courts saved a young drug dealer. But the dealer himself clearly explained why demand reduction is not a final solution. "I think I was more addicted to selling the drugs than to taking them," the young man confessed. Many more people (including the governor of the state directly to your east) are realizing that the drug war is beyond fixing, and that it's time for radical change. It's a shame your series did not give them more space to air their views. Putting another bandage on top of the corrosive disease of the drug war will only allow its damage to fester deeper in society. Stephen Young IMPORTANT: Always include your address and telephone number Please note: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it at least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of the same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work. ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing efforts 3 Tips for Letter Writers http://www.mapinc.org/3tips.htm Letter Writers Style Guide http://www.mapinc.org/style.htm TO SUBSCRIBE, DONATE, VOLUNTEER TO HELP, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL SEE http://www.drugsense.org/hurry.htm TO UNSUBSCRIBE SEE http://www.drugsense.org/unsub.htm Prepared by Stephen Young - http://home.att.net/~theyoungfamily Focus Alert Specialist

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