Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 Source: Dispatch, The (NC) Copyright: 2002, The Lexington Dispatch Contact: http://www.the-dispatch.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1583 Author: Dave Michon Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n065/a10.html REGULATE VS. PROHIBIT Editor: I disagree with Pastor Moore's contention in the Jan. 15 Dispatch that we cannot scrap the drug war and substitute regulation because of economics. Moore claims "it is estimated" that drug users can only work one or two years while drinkers can work 20 to 25 years and, therefore, drugs must stay illegal. While I would like to know who Moore says estimated this, I must maintain that it is not true. Dr. Sherman Halsted, for instance, one of four founders of Johns-Hopkins Medical Center, was a morphine addict until his death in his 80s and he was performing skilled surgery up to that time. The famous addict-author of "Junky," William S. Burroughs, lived into his 80s. There are many other famous examples, but a check with any pharmacologist will show that there is no reason a person cannot live a full life if provided with a supply of pharmaceutical compound. But there's the rub: Drug prohibition forces the addicts to use adulterated drugs and this is what kills them in the same way that bathtub gin or methyl "wood" alcohol killed and blinded drinkers in the 1920s. Pastor, sensible people know it is not physically or economically sound to take drugs. Lately, however; increasing numbers of smart, God-fearing people are realizing that we can save more lives through regulation than through prohibition. We have seen 90 years of prohibition failure turn the entire world into a vast narcotics bazaar. We cannot eliminate the harms of drug use but we can put the government in true control of it by providing cheap clean drugs to addicts and legalizing all vegetative drugs not further refined. Drug addicts and users are imprisoned and maligned in this country in a way which the Christ I know would never sanction. In fact, he calls us forth to fight against this repression. Dave Michon Eau Claire, Wis. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake