Pubdate: Fri, 01 Sep 2006
Source: Stratford City Gazette, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Stratford City Gazette
Contact: http://www.metroland.com/sw/customerservice/lettertoeditor/
Website: http://www.metroland.com/sw/news/stratford/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3716
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1136/a07.html
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

DIVERT MONEY FROM JAILS TO DRUG TREATMENT USE

Re How do you know if someone is using meth? Letter, Aug. 25

How should Stratford respond to illegal methamphetamine use? Here in 
the United States, New York City chose the zero-tolerance approach 
during the crack epidemic of the eighties, opting to arrest and 
prosecute as many offenders as possible. Meanwhile, Washington, DC 
Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack and America's capitol had the 
highest per capita murder rate in the country. Yet, crack use 
declined in both cities simultaneously.

Simply put, the younger generation saw firsthand what crack was doing 
to their older brothers and sisters and decided for themselves that 
crack was bad news. This is not to say nothing can be done about 
methamphetamine. Access to drug treatment is critical for the current 
generation of meth users. Diverting resources away from prisons and 
into cost-effective treatment would save both tax dollars and lives.

The following U.S. Department of Justice research brief confirms my 
claims regarding the spontaneous decline of crack cocaine: 
www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/nij/187490.txt

Robert Sharpe

policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

www.csdp.org

P.O. Box 59181

Washington, DC 20012

1-703-228-1762
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman