Pubdate: Fri, 17 Apr 2009
Source: Chief, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Whistler Printing & Publishing
Contact:  http://www.squamishchief.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2414
Author: Dr. Paul Martiquet
Note: Dr. Paul Martiquet is the Medical Health Officer for the, Sea to Sky.

PROHIBITION STILL DOES NOT WORK

Squamish - Prohibition did not work in the 1920s, so why would we 
expect different results in 2009? Banning substances, declaring war 
on drugs, punishing and scolding "bad" people who partake do not 
work. Proof of that is everywhere.

For psychoactive drugs - for example alcohol, painkillers, marijuana, 
cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and heroin - prohibition does not 
work. The effects of prohibition are widespread, affecting 
individuals, families and communities.

For the individual there are health effects including overdose, 
death, HIV and more. There is violence from other users and dealers, 
entry into the sex trade to finance addictions and involvement in 
other criminal activities. Families are damaged by parents' inability 
to care for their children and holding down a steady job or 
sustaining relationships is increasingly difficult as more and more 
time is spent on searching for drugs and money.

At the community level we get underground labs producing hazardous 
productions, drug trade violence and related crime. A black market 
and the profits it generates fuels organized crime. On a higher 
level, we also see a lack of respect for laws and other people. And 
on a societal level, there is the opportunity cost of using public 
funds for the so-called war on drugs instead of helping people.

Prohibition is obviously not the solution. What is?

The Health Officers Council of BC (HOC) is proposing a change to the 
current, failed, approach of prohibition. Specifically, they have 
asked the Prime Minister of Canada to "take the lead role in 
initiating a national public discussion that moves toward the 
development and implementation of a system of regulation and control 
of currently illegal substances within a framework of public health 
and human rights."

Yes, an end to prohibition. A century of prohibition in Canada has 
not only failed to curtail the illegal drug market and reduce access 
to illicit substances, it has contributed significantly to increasing 
the harms related to drug use including health effects, public 
disorder and the entrenchment of criminal organizations in the 
illegal drug trade. The HOC believes that committing further public 
resources "to such an obviously flawed policy is not in the public 
interest. Alternative approaches that are more cost effective and 
provide maximum economic and social benefit should be explored."

The end of prohibition is also being put forward by the Beyond 
Prohibition Coalition. Members include former Vancouver mayor Philip 
Owen, Libby Davies (MP, Vancouver East), the BC Civil Liberties 
Association and others. They believe that focus should be on helping 
people, not criminalizing them.

They believe that Canada's approach to illegal drugs should be 
improving access to treatment programs for those with addictions. 
They propose to end prohibition in order to protect citizens from the 
harmful effects of the illegal drug trade and drug use; to promote 
better use of public resources; and to reduce public disorder and 
minimize the involvement of organized crime in drug trafficking.

Prohibition did not work in 1920. It is no better a solution today.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom