Pubdate: Thu, 13 Dec 2001
Source: Daily Independent, The (KY)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Independent, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573
Author: Redford Givens, Gerald M Sutliff

PROHIBITION OF DRUGS HAS NEVER WORKED

Like every other drug warrior with a vested interest in continuing a futile 
drug crusade, Veronica Nunley (Daily Independent, Dec. 7) ignores the 
history of drug prohibition.

When drugs were legal, addicts held regular employment, raised decent 
families and were indistinguishable from their teetotaling neighbors. 
Overdoses were virtually unheard of when addicts used cheap pure Bayer 
Heroin instead of the expensive toxic potions prohibition puts on the streets.

All of America's ``drug problems" spring from the lunatic drug war Veronica 
Nunley makes her living from, not the drugs themselves.

History proves the counterproductive nature of drug prohibition. Where drug 
crime was unheard of, we now have prisons overflowing with drug users. 
Where addicts lived normal lives, we have hundreds of thousands of 
shattered families. Where overdoses were extremely rare, we have tens of 
thousands of drug deaths every year.

These are the end products of the drug policy Veronica Nunley advocates.

The Heroin Maintenance Program in Switzerland has reduced transmission of 
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other injection diseases to the lowest rate in 
the world. Overdose deaths are now practically unknown among Swiss addicts. 
Furthermore, crime among Swiss addicts has fallen off the charts.

The same outcomes are occurring in every other country with enlightened 
drug policies.

The drug prohibition policy endorsed by self-serving prohibitionists, on 
the other hand,  has never worked for anything, anywhere, anytime.

Redford Givens
San Francisco

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WOES CAUSED BY DRUG WAR, NOT DRUGS

Forgive my  intrusion by this ``outsider" but Veronica Nunley's Dec. 7 
letter deserves a response.  Her statement, ``The most successful drug 
prevention and treatment strategies are community-based," couldn't be more 
true.

However, the balance of her letter shows her lack of understanding about 
the so-called ``drug legalization" movement. That failure to understand is 
shown by her important question, ``What are the prospects we can reduce the 
harm caused by illicit drugs just by legalizing them?"

She should better ask about the harm caused by prohibition. If she were 
knowledgeable about that, then she will know enough to make a judgment. 
Many, if not most, of the evils of drugs result from the drug war, not the 
drugs.

There are numerous sources in books, newspapers and on the Web.  I 
recommend she start by reading Mike Grey's book, ``Drug Crazy: How We Got 
Into This Mess and How We Can Get Out." It's a ``page turner" and educates 
along the way.

Gerald M. Sutliff
Oakland, Calif.
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