Pubdate: Fri, 04 Feb 2011 Source: Windsor Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2011 Wayne Phillips Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501 Author: Wayne Phillips Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n059/a03.html ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY NOT UP TO THE TASK Re: Ont.'s failure to ban drug displays 'silly,' by Sharon Hill, Jan. 28. If the notion that displays serve as "unwanted temptation for recovering drug addicts and can give kids the impression that drug use is condoned" are to be taken as legitimate concerns, it follows that those concerns reflect the inadequacies of the drug treatment programs offered, of what children are taught and the failings of the anti-drug strategy itself. With less than an adequate funding to meet needs, no consideration of harm reduction models, questionable ethics of drug awareness aimed at youth, and an inherently dysfunctional anti-drug strategy what is surprising is that the situation is far worse. But no worries, Harper's Bill S-10 will change that. In the interim such bans will have the effect of adding to the forbidden fruit mystique which already exists around drugs. What is silly is the Reefer Madness overtones of it all. WAYNE PHILLIPS, Hamilton - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D