Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jul 2004
Source: Pacific Daily News (Guam)
Copyright: 2004 Pacific Daily News
Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.guampdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122
Author: Chris Curran Dombrowski
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ashcroft.htm (Ashcroft, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mccaffrey.htm (McCaffrey, Barry)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

NO EVIDENCE BACKS 'WAR ON DRUGS'

In the June 9 edition of the Pacific Daily News' Opinion section was a 
quote from former drug czar, retired Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey. In his 
quote, he stated that it would be "irresponsible" not to have the criminal 
justice system involved in the treatment of substance abuse and drug addiction.

Why? Please cite your sources. Ever since the criminal justice system began 
its "war on drugs," the drugs themselves have gotten cheaper, more potent 
and widely available. Now we have documented cases of 9-year-olds 
experimenting. What can you show us that treatment and harm-reduction 
hasn't already?

Several days after Sept. 11, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated on 
CNN's Larry King Live: "I want to model the war on terrorism after the war 
on drugs." Anyone with a computer and access to the Internet will be able 
to discover that the war on drugs has been a total failure and is worsening 
the human condition.

(Studies show) that the pathways to easing the "drug problem" are 
decriminalization and medicalization (treatment upon 
demand/harm-reduction). Can you, Gen. McCaffrey, or anyone else in the 
criminal justice system, show us one shred of evidence that the criminal 
justice system has achieved any substantial effect, besides funneling 
individuals into treatment, that works?

As a physician and an experimental research scientist, the criminal justice 
system's approach to solving the drug problem comes across to me as fascist 
in nature, especially when you compare our programs to those of Russia and 
western Europe.

My father was a Marine in World War II. He taught me how to "question 
authority." I also learned that if you can't defend your position, then you 
don't have one. So I ask you, General, with all due honor and respect, in 
light of all the evidence, how can you defend your position?

I truly revere your service to our country, just as I do my dad's. But it 
seems to me, from my own personal and professional perspective, that what 
is missing from your rhetoric is a good dose of compassion and love. It 
appears that you have forgotten what you fought for, and that is the 
universality of liberty and freedom.

Sen. John McCain, former POW, writes in his latest book, "Why Courage 
Matters," that "We're all afraid of something. Some have more fears than 
others. The one we must all guard against is the fear of ourselves. Don't 
let the sensation of fear convince you that you're too weak to have 
courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice. No 
one is born a coward. We were meant to love. And we were meant to have 
courage for it."

So be brave, General. The rest is easy.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager