Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jan 2006
Source: Hanover Mariner (MA)
Copyright: 2006 Hanover Mariner
Contact:  http://www.townonline.com/hanover/news.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3164
Author: Mary Smith/  Hanover Resident, Concerned Citizens For Drug 
Prevention,  Inc.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

VOTE 'NO' ON DRUG USE

In Massachusetts we have recently made some headway on changing the 
drunk driving laws. It was a long hard fight. We waited too long. It 
is now  time for the public to inform our legislators that those who 
smoke marijuana,  sniff cocaine, shoot heroin or ingest any other 
mind-altering illegal drug,  should also not drive on our roads. They 
should be in rehabilitation and our  young people should be hearing 
the facts and dangers of mind-altering drugs to  encourage drug-free 
children. We cannot  prevent drug use while promoting drug use. Any 
bill that makes illegal drugs or  needles more available to addicts 
should not be passed into law for any reason.  I refer to a bill at 
the State House (H4176) that will allow the sale of needles  to 
anyone over the age of 18 without a prescription. This bill should 
not be passed. It is deceptive. It includes a 'rolled-in' bill 
(S1272) that allows the  Department of Public Health to put needle 
give-away programs wherever it  chooses, without the knowledge or 
consent of the people in the targeted  communities.

Needle  Exchange Programs are not funded by the federal government 
because they have not  been scientifically shown to prevent AIDS and 
because there is evidence that  such programs encourage drug use. The 
state should abide by the same logic and  not give its stamp of 
approval to the use of illegal drugs via needle give-away  programs.

This bill  tramples on our drug paraphernalia laws and sends a 
message that use of illegal  drugs is condoned and acceptable. Should 
the Senate pass H4176 it will have an  effect on the safety of our 
neighborhoods and children. Law enforcement will no  longer have the 
capability to arrest users. Whenever drugs are readily  available, 
consumption and addiction always increase along with all of the 
resultant concurrent crime. Needle handout sites are a magnet for 
drug dealers,  prostitution and violence, fostering child neglect, 
birth defects, crime,  emergency room over-crowding, a rise in 
insurance coasts, lost productivity in  the workplace, and escalating 
healthcare costs - all at taxpayers' expense.

Needle  exchange programs have been oversold, over publicized and 
over promoted.  Treatment and education, minus needles, have been 
proven to be the most compassionate and most successful means to help 
the addict. What we could use is  public outrage generated toward 
those whose goal is to legalize mind-altering  drugs with no 
compassion towards the addict and the families who suffer. Please 
call  your senators to vote NO on H4176.

Mary Smith  is a member of Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention Inc.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman