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