Pubdate: Wed, 12 Mar 2003
Source: Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
Copyright: 2003 The Jamaica Observer Ltd,
Contact:  http://www.jamaicaobserver.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1127
Author: Robert Sharpe

DRUG WAR FUELS CRIME

The crime, corruption and overdose deaths attributed to drugs, are all 
direct results of drug prohibition. With alcohol prohibition repealed in 
the United States, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down in 
drive-by shootings. neither do consumers go blind drinking unregulated 
bathtub gin.

Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant 
only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. In terms of addictive 
drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to 
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't 
fight crime, it fuels crime.

Unfortunately, shameless tough-on-drugs politicians have built careers on 
confusing drug prohibition's collateral damage with drugs themselves. The 
global drug problem is compounded by the manner in which the United States 
uses its superpower status to export a dangerous moral crusade around the 
globe. When politics trumps science, people die. Consider the experience of 
the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated.

US Centres for Disease Control researchers estimate that 57 per cent of 
AIDS cases among women and 36 per cent of overall AIDS cases in the US 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. Jamaica should just 
say no to the harm of the maximisation of drug policies of the United States.

Robert Sharpe Programme Officer Drug Policy Alliance 925 15th Street,
NW Washington, DC 20005 USA http://www.drugpolicy.org
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart