Pubdate: Sat, 06 Oct 2007
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2007 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Michael C. Chettleburgh

THE WRONG WAY TO FIGHT DRUGS

Re: A Better Way To Fight The Drug War, Lorne Gunter, Oct. 3.

Lorne Gunter's intelligent and timely column on Canada's new drug war 
was regrettably marred by its moralistic conclusion. Treating addicts 
as pariahs, left to fend for themselves and deal with their 
addictions, is public policy as bad as the Tories' imminent get-tough 
war on drugs. If legalized drugs were controlled and taxed by the 
state, we would generate a several hundred million dollar per year 
fiscal dividend, to finance the negative outcomes that invariably 
arise (like addictions), for which we already pay the price. 
Moreover, we would generate the funds needed to properly fund 
prevention, harm reduction and targeted police suppression efforts.

This is the model we already employ with two other drugs we consider 
socially acceptable -- alcohol and nicotine delivered in tobacco 
products -- that collectively kill 50,000+ Canadians every year. If, 
as Mr. Gunter advocates, drug abusers should be forced to confront or 
cover the economic costs of their choices, perhaps he believes 
smokers and alcoholics with negative health outcomes ought to be 
added to the list of social outcasts, too? Let's treat drug addiction 
for what it really is: a public health problem, requiring a sound 
public health solution.

Michael C. Chettleburgh, author of Young Thugs: Inside the Dangerous 
World of Canadian Street Gangs, Toronto.
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