Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jun 2013
Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Copyright: 2013 Asbury Park Press
Contact:  http://www.app.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26
Author: Edward H. Decker

Featured letter:

DRUGS A MEDICAL PROBLEM; DON'T TREAT ABUSE AS CRIME

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato says he's going to send a 
strong message by prosecuting two men who supplied heroin to two 
people who overdosed on the drug ("Ocean Co. overdose deaths lead to 
2 indictments," June 28).

I don't know what world Coronato lives in, but since the passing of 
the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914, we have been in a drug war for 99 
years now, and apparently nobody has gotten any message yet, despite 
passing tougher laws.

When are our so-called leaders going to learn we have to treat drug 
abuse as a medical problem, and not a criminal one? Nobody forced the 
user to take the drug; he did that on his own.

And if they want to go after the suppliers, well, I have two cousins 
addicted to Oxycodone in Florida, where doctors and pharmacies hand 
this stuff out like candy.

Both were in accidents, but after getting addicted - unlike our cops, 
prosecutors, and judges - they had no health insurance, and can't afford rehab.

And if the judge sends these two people to jail at $40,000 each a 
year, he will punish us taxpayers along with the dealers.

Edward H. Decker

Manchester
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