Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jul 2001
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2001 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.montrealgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Robert Sharpe

SHOOTING GALLERIES WON'T THWART BLACK MARKET

The recently proposed safe injection rooms in the Plateau Mont Royal area 
would be a step in the right direction, but they would do nothing to 
undermine the thriving black market or protect future generations from 
addiction.

Because heroin is sold via an unregulated market, its quality and purity 
fluctuate tremendously. An addict accustomed to low-quality heroin who 
unknowingly uses almost pure heroin will likely overdose.

As far as crime is concerned, addicts would not be prostituting themselves 
or committing crimes if not for artificially inflated black-market prices. 
Contrary to what drug warriors would have the public believe, there is a 
middle ground between all-out legalization and drug prohibition.

The Swiss government's controversial heroin maintenance trials are showing 
promise. The trials, modeled on methadone maintenance programs, have been 
shown to reduce drug use and related crime, death and disease among chronic 
heroin users.

By registering Canada's heroin addicts and providing them with standardized 
doses in a treatment setting, the public health problems associated with 
heroin could very well be eliminated. More importantly, organized crime 
would lose its client base.

This would render heroin trafficking unprofitable and spare future 
generations from addiction. Drug policies require a harm-reduction approach 
that minimizes the negative consequences of both drug use and drug laws.

Robert Sharpe

Program Officer

The Lindesmith Centre-Drug Policy Foundation

Washington, D.C.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager