Pubdate: Thu, 22 Apr 2010
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2010 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Jerry Epstein

IT'S AN ILLUSION

Regarding "Drug raid nets 16 students," the drug war relies on
illusions, so the odds are we just made the drug problem worse.

The drug trade is made possible by prohibition, the system based on
the idea that enabling drug cartels and dealers will keep the drugs
away from our children better than a licensed and regulated legitimate
business.

Most teens get their drugs only from friends and family, and they are
often free. Overwhelmingly use is experimental and soon stops. Will
this raid help that? Dealers are quickly replaced, so unless they
forget how to use a cell phone, the few regular users will have their
drugs tomorrow if they want them.

What will we do with these "felons"? Send them to prison, the graduate
school on how to survive with a felony on your record. Better our
money went to place professionals in schools who could recognize
problem users early and offer help and mental health care instead of
threats and punishment.

Jerry Epstein

Houston
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake