Pubdate: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 Source: Register-Herald, The (Beckley, WV) Copyright: 2005 The Register-Herald Contact: http://www.register-herald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441 Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) DRUG WAR'S CURE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE Regarding columnist Mark Burnette's recent op-ed ... When it comes to the drug war, mandatory minimum sentences have done little other than turn the alleged land of the free into the world's biggest jailer. If draconian penalties deterred illegal drug use, the goal of a "drug-free" America would have been achieved decades ago. Instead of adding to what is already the highest incarceration rate in the world, we should be funding drug treatment. The drug war is a cure that is worse than the disease. Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time to end this madness and instead treat all substance abuse, legal or otherwise, as the public health problem it is. It's worth noting that tobacco use has declined considerably. Public education efforts are paying off. Apparently, mandatory minimum sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of discouraging unhealthy choices. Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse. Robert Sharpe Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. - ---