Pubdate: Tue, 31 Dec 2002
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2002 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Robert Sharpe

DRUG ABUSE BAD; DRUG WAR IS WORSE

That drug czar Frank Melton doesn't have law enforcement credentials is not 
necessarily a bad thing. Overemphasis on law enforcement solutions to 
public health problems results in needless deaths. Drug users are reluctant 
to seek medical attention.

Rehabilitation is also confounded. Turnout at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 
would be rather low if alcoholism were a crime pursued with zero-tolerance 
zeal.

Eliminating the stigma and penalties associated with illicit drug abuse 
would facilitate rehabilitation and save lives.

Unfortunately, tough-on-drugs politicians have built careers on confusing 
drug prohibition's collateral damage with drugs themselves. When politics 
trumps science, people die. Centers for Disease Control researchers 
estimate that 57 percent of AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of 
overall AIDS cases in the U.S. are linked to injection drug use or sex with 
partners who inject drugs.

This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of 
zero-tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes.

Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe Program officer Drug Policy Alliance Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom