Pubdate: Thu, 09 Nov 2006
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Grand Junction, CO)
Copyright: 2006 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.gjsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2084
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1502/a06.html

COST-EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IS BEST WAY TO HANDLE METH ADDICTION

Editor:

How should Mesa County respond to the growing use of methamphetamine?

During the crack epidemic of the '80s, New York City chose the zero 
tolerance approach, opting to arrest and prosecute as many offenders 
as possible. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was 
smoking crack and America's capital had the highest per capita murder 
rate in the country. Yet crack use declined in both cities simultaneously.

Simply put, the younger generation saw first-hand 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 meth. 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.

A U.S. Department of Justice research brief that confirms my claims 
regarding the spontaneous decline of crack cocaine can be found at: 
www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/nij/187490.txt.

Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C
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MAP posted-by: Elaine