Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 Source: Saanich News (CN BC) Contact: http://www.saanichnews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1209 Author: Jim Hackler Note: Hackler is a UVic sociologist and the the author of a "Canadian Criminology: a "Strategies and Perspectives. RESPONDING INTELLIGENTLY TO CRYSTAL METH Restricting the sales of materials used to manufacture crystal meth may not be the panacea politicians expect. Those of us who are social scientists interested in social issues often face a dilemma. We are fairly good at describing what happened and in providing evidence when programs do not work. Unfortunately, we are not good at saying what should be done. It is also difficult to explain why things happen. Like medical research, it takes a long time and many experiments with control and comparison groups before we can identify those actions that actually help. Naturally, it is difficult to not to favour restricting the sales of materials used to manufacture crystal meth. However, we have considerable knowledge about the consequences of prohibiting substances. In the days of alcohol prohibition, a number of towns in the U. S. were considering ending the ban on alcohol. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was one of the groups fighting to keep prohibition. Unbeknownst to the WCTU leaders, organized crime was funneling money into their campaign. Naturally, they wanted to see prohibition continue. Their income would be reduced considerably if they had to compete with legitimate liquor dealers. I am not suggesting that organized crime is secretly campaigning for laws making it illegal to sell materials used to manufacture crystal meth. However, it would be to their advantage if the police would crack down on the amateurs and leave the business to the more ruthless, the more sophisticated and better organized professional criminals. In general, our efforts to reduce the supply of drugs have been ineffective. In Sept 2000 Canadian police seized 100 kg of heroin, one of the largest-ever seizures. Did it have an impact on injection users? The Vancouver Injection Study compared 30 day periods before and after the seizure. They found no meaningful change. The price of heroin went down, suggesting that other shipments easily compensated for the seizures. If I were a politician, would I vote for measures to restrict the sales of materials to manufacture crystal meth? Of course! How can you not vote for motherhood? There are demands that something must be done. Emotionally, I want to support such a measure. That is my dilemma, because I am aware that it would be another invitation for organized criminals to expand their activity. Jim Hackler Hackler is a UVic sociologist and the the author of a "Canadian Criminology: a "Strategies and Perspectives. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth