Pubdate: Sun, 19 Mar 2000
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2000 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102
Website: http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Author: Michael Pearson, Coordinator of Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma

METHAMPHETAMINE BATTLE

In Julie DelCour's March 12 column, "Methamphetamine," she quotes OSBI
spokesperson, Kym Koch, as saying, "We don't see an end to the problem in
sight."

The Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Litchfield states, "I'm convinced that
this is an epidemic ... the cost to the individual and to society is
immense."

Adair County Sheriff Charles Hartshorne said, "It's a war, and we're going
to win it," after convicting four men, one of them 76 years old. (Three men
guilty in drug conspiracy March 3."

DelCour even calls it "Battling the plague."

Even though we admit that what we are doing is failing and undermining our
freedoms and the Constitution, as a nation we cannot contemplate this
"plague-epidemic" as a disease. Logic dictates that the best way to stop
this disease requires the full use of the medical community for citizens who
are addicted and cannot stop regardless of the legal consequences. Chemical
poisoning of the brain is as treatable a condition as any other disease. Yet
we have decided that we should place our resources on proven ineffectual
strategies using force and institutional warehousing at incredible expense
and a pittance on treatment.

Perhaps, if we can scrounge more money from schools and assistance for the
old and the helpless, we can throw more money into the rat-hole and win this
civil war we are obviously losing.

Michael Pearson,
Guthrie
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