Pubdate: Wed, 05 May 2010
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2010 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/O3vnWIvC
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n337/a07.html

GIVING ADDICTS DRUGS MAKES SENSE

Re: Give Addicts Hope, Not Drugs, letter to the editor, May 3. Your 
letter writer warns against loosening drug law. Let's look at the 
facts. In 2001, Portugal abolished all criminal penalties for 
personal possession of all drugs, with the rates of drug use and 
abuse then falling.

In 1994, Switzerland started an experimental program to sell heroin 
addicts the drug at very low cost, even giving it to the addicts who 
couldn't afford it. In 2008, 68% of the Swiss voted to make the 
program permanent. Again heroin-addiction rates fell -- dramatically. 
So has the country's overall crime rate.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart