Pubdate: Sun, 21 Jan 2007
Source: International Herald-Tribune (International)
Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2007
Contact:  http://www.iht.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

LOSING THE WAR ON DRUGS

Regarding Orlando Patterson's article, "The other losing war," 
(Views, Jan. 16): 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 U.S. drug war does not fight crime, it fuels crime.

With alcohol prohibition repealed in 1933, liquor bootleggers no 
longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings, nor do American 
consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub gin.

While U.S. politicians ignore the drug war's historical precedent, 
European countries are embracing harm reduction, a public-health 
alternative based on the principle that both drug abuse and 
prohibition have the potential to cause harm.

Examples of harm reduction include needle-exchange programs to stop 
the spread of HIV, marijuana regulation aimed at separating the hard 
and soft drug markets, and treatment alternatives that do not require 
incarceration as a prerequisite. Unfortunately, fear of appearing 
"soft on crime" compels many U.S. politicians to support a failed 
drug war that ultimately subsidizes organized crime.

Robert Sharpe

Washington
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman