Pubdate: Thu, 08 Sep 2005 Source: Osoyoos Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Osoyoos Times Contact: http://www.osoyoostimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3873 Author: Robert Sharpe Note: Title by mapinc editor SUPPLY AND DEMAND 101 Editor: Your Aug. 24th editorial made the common mistake of confusing drug-related crime with prohibition-related crime. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For 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. The good news is that Canada has already adopted many of the common sense harm reduction interventions first pioneered in Europe. The bad news is that Canada's southern neighbor continues to use its superpower status to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe. The United States provides tragic examples of anti-drug strategies that are best avoided. U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate that 57 percent of AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases in the U.S. 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. Can Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization drug policies of the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated? U.S. Centers for Disease Control stats: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/idu.htm Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC - --- MAP posted-by: Josh