Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jan 2001
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Copyright: 2001 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact:  P.O. Box 1909, Seattle, WA 98111-1909
Website: http://www.seattle-pi.com/
Author: Robert Sharpe, http://www.mapinc.org/authors/sharpe+robert
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1925/a07.html

HONEST DISCUSSION OF DRUGS STIFLED BY ZERO-TOLERANCE EDICTS

Drug courts are definitely a step in the right direction, but they fail to
acknowledge the manner in which law enforcement's involvement in addiction
problems discourages voluntary treatment (P-I, Dec. 26).

For drug treatment to be truly effective, and not necessarily preceded by an
arrest, policy-makers have to tone down the tough-on-drugs rhetoric.
Zero-tolerance attitudes discourage the honest discussion necessary to
facilitate treatment. Driving illicit drug addiction underground only
compounds the problem. Would alcoholics seek treatment if doing so were
tantamount to confessing to criminal activity? Likewise, would putting every
uncooperative alcoholic behind bars and saddling them with criminal records
prove cost-effective? By mandating prison sentences for drug court
participants who test positive, drug courts essentially hand down life
sentences to incorrigible addicts. Meanwhile, voluntary drug treatment
continues to be underfunded and confounded by the prevailing zero-tolerance
approach to illicit drugs. Drug courts represent long overdue changes in
America's punitive drug policy, but until peace is declared in the failed
drug war the success of treatment will be severely limited.

Robert Sharpe
Program Officer, The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation- Washington,
D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Don Beck