Pubdate: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA) Copyright: 2008 The Times-Herald Contact: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/993 Author: Ralph Givens END DRUG PROHIBITION One point should be added to letter writer Paul Armentano's insightful comments about drug prohibition ("Start with the war on drugs," April 2). There was no such thing as a "drug problem" before the drug laws went on the books in 1914. Search old newspaper archives in vain seeking an addiction-related robbery, theft, embezzlement, assault or murder when drugs were legal. When addicts could buy all of the heroin, morphine, cocaine and anything else they wanted cheaply and legally, there was no such thing as "drug crime." Nowadays, our prisons are filled with drug users whose crime is being addicted to a drug. The term "drug crime" is an alibi for a failed drug crusade. Likewise, when addicts used pure pharmaceutical drugs of known purity and potency, accidental overdoses were virtually unheard of. Before drug prohibition almost all drug deaths were suicides done because of terminal health conditions. Recently drug czar John Walters said there are more than 30,000 accidental overdoses every year. Drug prohibition is completely counterproductive and should be ended. Ralph Givens, Daly City - --- MAP posted-by: Derek