Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jul 2003
Source: Star, The (South Africa)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers 2003
Contact:  http://www.thestar.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/423
Author: Robert Sharpe

HEROIN TRIALS WORKING

The reported increase in heroin use in South Africa is cause for alarm.

The inevitable tough-on-drugs response is a very real threat to public 
safety. Attempts to limit the supply of drugs while demand remains constant 
only increases 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.

Switzerland's heroin maintenance trials have been shown to reduce 
drug-related disease, death and crime.

Addicts would not be sharing needles if not for zero-tolerance laws that 
restrict access to clean syringes, nor would they be committing crimes if 
not for artificially inflated black-market prices. Providing chronic 
addicts with standardised doses in a clinical setting eliminates many 
health and public safety problems associated with heroin use.

Heroin maintenance pilot projects are now under way in Germany, Spain and 
the Netherlands. If expanded, prescription heroin maintenance would deprive 
organised crime of a core client base.

This would render illegal heroin trafficking unprofitable and spare future 
generations addiction.

Putting public health before politics may send the wrong message to 
children, but I like to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe

  Arlington, Virginia United States of America
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