Pubdate: Thu, 02 May 2002 Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL) Copyright: 2002 News-Journal Corp Contact: http://www.n-jcenter.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700 Author: John Chase Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n753/a14.html?1366 GOOD RESULTS WITH ADDICTS Dan Price hit the nail on the head with his April 19 Community Voices column "Alternatives to the drug war." It takes guts for a person who works closely with drug war proponents to say such things. His proposal is very close to Swiss heroin policy that legalizes soft drugs and provides "maintenance programs" for the addictive drugs. The Swiss results are described in the book "Cost-Benefit Analysis of Heroin Maintenance Treatment" by two medical doctors, published in 2000 by S. Karger, AG, Basel. The bottom line is that Swiss taxpayers save about $30 U.S. per day for each addict in the program, with most of the savings owed to the fact that addicts no longer rob and steal to get the cash to pay the exorbitant price offered by drug dealers. The addicts' health improves, and because they no longer spend every waking moment planning for their next fix, they are able to hold jobs, pay taxes and support families. Great emphasis is put on "reintegrating" the addict to society. We take the exact opposite approach. Our official policy is to drive the addict to the margins of society. We believe that demonization works. But the Swiss have results. Perhaps with more brave people like Price speaking the truth, others will be emboldened to follow, and we can move ahead. JOHN CHASE Palm Harbor - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)