Pubdate: Fri, 11 May 2001 Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland) Section: Letters Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2001 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/144 Author: Robert Sharpe, The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation DRUG ADDICTS NEED BETTER CARE Given the extent of the heroin problem, perhaps policymakers should consider increasing treatment options rather than falling back on "tough on drugs" strategies that only compound the problem. Would alcoholics seek help for their illness if doing so was tantamount to confessing to criminal activity? There is a middle ground between all-out legalisation and drug prohibition. The trials, modelled after methadone maintenance programmes, have been shown to reduce drug use and related crime, death, and disease among chronic heroin users. By registering Ireland's heroin addicts and providing them with standardised doses in a treatment setting, the public health problems associated with heroin could be eliminated. Robert Sharpe The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation 4455, Connecticut Ave, Washington, DC, USA - --- MAP posted-by: Beth