Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Maple Ridge News Contact: http://www.mapleridgenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328 Author: C. Gwendolyn Landolt LIBERALIZING DRUG LAWS HAD TRAGIC OUTCOMES OVERSEAS Editor, the News: Robert Sharpe's letter of June 22, 2002 is filled with all the standard propaganda used by those who wish to liberalize Canada's drug law. None of the assertions in his letter, however, stand up to scrutiny. The liberalized drug laws in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Frankfurt, Germany, contrary to laudatory comments about them by Mr. Sharpe, have resulted in tragic outcomes. For example, one of the consequences of the liberal drug policy in Switzerland is that Swiss adolescents now use more drugs per capital than adolescents in any other country in Western Europe. The Netherlands liberalized drug experience in 1976 and this has caused that country to become the drug capital of Western Europe, not just for cannabis, but also heroine, cocaine and the synthetic drug, ecstasy. Under these policies, cannabis use alone has increased 250%. In fact, according to the government-financed Trimbos Institute in the Netherlands, there has been a tripling of the number of Dutch addicts since that country legalized its drug policies. According to Dr. Karel Frederick Gunning, MD, in his paper, Dutch Drug Policy, the "harm reduction" Dutch policy of containing heroin addiction through distribution of free needles and syringes has not prevented the spread of heroin addiction at all, nor has it curtailed drug-related crime. The liberalized drug scene in Frankfurt has led to addicts now becoming poly drug users injecting a mixture of heroin, cocaine and benzodiazepines. Recent increases in cocaine use have presented other unexpected issues for Frankfurt. Not only did addicts inject more often, they are also more aggressive. Mr. Sharpe is also incorrect when he asserts zero tolerance on drugs in the US is a failure. In fact, the United States' tough policy has been immensely successful. 1998 statistics indicate the number of individuals who use drugs dropped to 6% of the population (13.6 million) from the previous 14% in 1979. Moreover, free needle exchanges are no answer to the drug problem. Such exchanges can more correctly be referred to as needle distribution sites since relatively few needles are ever returned. The discarded needles are used again and again off site before they are finally abandoned in streets and alleys posing a significant risk to individuals. These needle exchanges also become 'honey pots' or meeting points for drug users and dealers who know that the needle exchange is a ino-goi area for police. This has led to such areas gaining recognition as a safe area for drug dealers to operate. Not surprisingly, this has also led to a demise of businesses in these areas because of drug related crime. The terrible tragedy of the needle handouts, according to the US Director of the Drug Control Policies, Washington, D.C. is that the majority of addicts receiving needle handouts, when offered, refuse treatment. In fact, addicts are lured away from treatment programs through the provision of free needles. Finally, two comprehensive and rigorous studies have examined both the Vancouver and the Montreal needle exchange sites. The researchers found a high degree of needle sharing among the participants who were three times more likely to be infected with HIV and hepatitis C as those not on the program. The problem with a liberalized drug policy is that drug use increases always and everywhere when drugs are available without legal sanction. In short, the law serves as a deterrent. To many, what is legal becomes acceptable and once legal sanctions are removed, there is a greatly increased use of drugs. C. Gwendolyn Landolt National Vice President, REAL Women of Canada - --- MAP posted-by: Beth