Pubdate: Fri, 6 May 2011
Source: Daily Nexus (UC Santa Barbara, CA Edu)
Copyright: 2011 Daily Nexus
Contact:  http://www.dailynexus.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2729
Author: Max Calehuff
Cited: Moms United http://www.momsunited.net

MOTHERS CALL FOR DRUG REFORM

Organization Criticizes Current U.S. Policy, Advocates Proper 
Treatment for Addiction

Santa Barbara's chapter of the national organization A New PATH -- 
Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing -- will participate in 
the organization's new countrywide campaign to help end the nation's 
"War on Drugs" starting this Mother's Day.

The nonprofit activism group organized the Moms United to End the War 
on Drugs campaign to advocate for proper treatment of drug addictions 
instead of harsh legal ramifications for drug use.

Local PATH member Gretchen Burns Bergman said the roots of the 
problem lie in the origin of the drug war in the 1970s. According to 
Bergman, the group is not sponsoring substance use but considers the 
current system of handling drug violators to be harmful and counterproductive.

"These methods of harsh punishment for drug use are clearly not 
working, as observed by the 75 percent recidivism rate for convicts 
in Santa Barbara County," Bergman said. "So many lives and families 
have been destroyed by the war on drugs and all the money being used 
to fight drug use is simply feeding the prison-industrial complex. 
Moms United certainly doesn't advocate drug use, but it is time our 
nation realized that the War on Drugs is doing far more harm than 
good in our communities."

Suzanne Riordan, a mother working on the Moms United campaign in the 
Santa Barbara area, said her son Ian turned to drug use as 
self-medication to relieve his symptoms of bipolar disorder.

"He was arrested for drug use and put on probation," Suzanne said. 
"His illness had not been treated and, when faced with a drug test 
and the possibility of being sent to prison, he had a full relapse 
and died of an overdose."

The problem, Riordan said, is that drug cases are handled with 
criminal punishment rather than counseling services and other 
productive forms of treatment.

"The state of California spends nearly $16 billion annually 
prosecuting drug crimes and giving felony charges to desperate people 
seeking relief from debilitating mental disorders," Riordan said. 
"All of that money could be going into positive treatment centers 
where these people can get the help they need to become functioning 
members of society. Such harsh punishments also make it less likely 
that the friends of an addict will contact the authorities when they 
believe a friend to be overdosing."

Bergman also said the negative social connotation of drug abuse is 
harmful to those who suffer from it.

"What people need to understand about drug addiction is that it is 
not a moral failing but a true sickness," Bergman said. "People try 
to remove themselves from this issue out of fear and ignorance 
instead of recognizing the need for compassion. It is time to break 
down this stigma and get more parents involved and speaking out 
against this failing program."

The campaign will host a set of rallies and teach-ins across the 
country on June 17, the anniversary of the start of the War on Drugs 
40 years ago. Those who wish to contribute or volunteer can go online 
to www.momsunited.net or join the campaign's group on Facebook.