Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2011
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2011 Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.columbiatribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91
Note: Prints the street address of LTE writers.
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n042/a08.html

SWISS HEROIN PROGRAM EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY

Editor, the Tribune: I'm writing about a thoughtful column from Hank 
Waters, "Mexico and the drug war" on Jan. 22.

Imagine if we could eliminate almost all of our nation's heroin 
dealers - Switzerland did. Imagine if we could reduce the number of 
heroin addicts by 82 percent - Switzerland did. Imagine if we could 
dramatically reduce our overall crime rate - Switzerland did. Imagine 
if we could eliminate virtually all deaths from heroin - Switzerland did.

How did they do it? In 1994, Switzerland started an experimental 
program to sell heroin addicts the drug cheaply, even giving it to 
the addicts who couldn't afford it. In 2008, 68 percent of the Swiss 
voted to make the program permanent. Have Swiss heroin-addiction 
rates skyrocketed? No, they have dramatically fallen. So has 
Switzerland's overall crime rate.

Will we adopt Switzerland's heroin policy? Probably not. Too many 
people, industries and institutions have a vested financial interest 
in maintaining the status quo.

Kirk Muse

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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom