Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2002
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Bruce Rideout
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM MAKES HABIT A LITTLE SAFER

Mike Christopulos feels that funding clean needle exchange is wrong because 
it helps addicts continue their habit ("Walker right to cut funding," The 
Morning Mail). Simplistic analysis seems to be Christopulos's expertise.

By that logic then, if all needles were wiped off the planet, heroin 
addicts would just simply stop. Or die. Sort of like if we took alcohol 
away, holidays would end. Wait a minute, didn't we try that once? Yet 
alcohol use continued, unabated, but much more dangerous as bathtub gin 
made for a deadly cocktail. So Prohibition did not end alcohol use, but did 
succeed in making it a health threat.

Well, Mr. Christopulos, that is how drug prohibition works. It does not 
abate drug use but makes it more dangerous. And the cost to taxpayers goes 
way beyond $230,000. Clean needles will not end drug addiction. But it will 
make it safer. Christopulos is entitled to dislike drug users and their 
addictions. But he has no right to insist on their deaths.

Bruce Rideout

Madison