Pubdate: Tue, 15 May 2001
Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.dailybulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/871

A NEW TOOL FOR DRUG WAR

When he appointed a new drug czar last week, President Bush sounded a note 
too often absent in the nation's anti-drug policies: more treatment for 
addicts. The president promised to "close the treatment gap in this 
country" as part of an overall approach to combating drug use.

While the United States has put heavy emphasis on lowering the supply of 
drugs, it has mostly ignored the demand half of the equation. Get-tough 
policies, heavier anti-smuggling efforts and even aiding attempts to shut 
down drug production outside the country receive high-profile emphasis - 
and provided only mixed results. But such measures, as valuable as they 
might be, can only go so far.

Treating addicts, and thus removing the market for illegal drugs, can be an 
effective and humane way to cut drug use. Unfortunately, reducing the 
number of drug users in this country usually hasn't gone much beyond "just 
say no."

That's a mistake. Reducing the demand for illegal drugs should also be a 
major part of the nation's strategy, and it's welcome to see the president 
recognizing that fact.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom