Pubdate: Sat, 15 Oct 2005
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2005 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Stephen Heath
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1602/a03.html?127705
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

TREAT THIS EPIDEMIC

As a recovered abuser of methamphetamine, I'd like to humbly rebut claims 
from John Walters [White House director of drug control policy] that 
actions taken to date at the federal level will have any significant impact 
against the illegal amphetamine trade ("Meeting the challenge of the meth 
epidemic," Oct. 10).

Walters acknowledges the vast majority of current meth trafficking 
originates south of the U.S. border.

When we consider that federal drug enforcement over the past 35 years 
against smuggled drugs has been an abysmal failure, we can recognize that 
any purported plans to impede smuggling of methamphetamine are simply 
federal smoke-blowing.

The obscene profits created by 21st-century drug Prohibition ensure that 
there will always be fresh dealers to replace those arrested.

The urgent priority should be to reduce demand for methamphetamine. We need 
to transfer the money used to incarcerate drug abusers into programs that 
allow treatment for any drug abuser who wants it.

Stephen Heath

Media relations, Florida office Law Enforcement Against Prohibition 
Clearwater, Fla.
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