Pubdate: Mon, 21 May 2001
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2001 Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.showmenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n860/a01.html

PRISON NOT THE ANSWER FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USERS

Editor, the Tribune:

Regarding William Raspberry's thoughtful May 9 column, the government's own 
statistics reveal that the drug war is being waged in a racist manner. 
Although only 15 percent of the nation's drug users are black, blacks 
account for 37 percent of those arrested for drug violations, over 42 
percent of those in federal prisons for drug violations and almost 60 
percent of those in state prisons for drug felonies. Support for the drug 
war would end overnight if whites were incarcerated for drugs at the same 
rate as minorities. Racially disproportionate incarceration rates are not 
the only cause for alarm. Our taxes are financing for-profit prison systems 
that serve to transmit violent habits and values rather than reduce them.

The vast majority of illicit drug users hold jobs. Rather than waste tax 
dollars turning potentially productive members of society who use drugs 
into hardened criminals, we should be funding cost-effective treatment. The 
drug war confounds treatment by driving use underground. Would alcoholics 
seek treatment if doing so were tantamount to confessing to criminal 
activity? Likewise, would putting every incorrigible alcoholic behind bars 
and saddling them with criminal records prove cost-effective?

America operates the largest prison system in the world, in large part 
because of the never-ending drug war. It's time to declare drug peace and 
start treating all drug use, legal or otherwise, as the public health 
problem it is.

Robert Sharpe, program officer The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation

4455 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite B-500

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