Pubdate: Tue, 01 Oct 2013
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2013 Telegraph Media Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Page: 2

WAR OF DRUGS 'IS BEING LOST'

THE war on drugs is failing to curb supply despite the increasing
amounts of funding being ploughed into law enforcement, medical
researchers have warned.

Street prices of illegal drugs have fallen in real terms since 1990
while the purity of the substances has generally increased, a sign of
increased availability, according to the research, published in the
online journal BMJ Open.

Most national drug control strategies have focused on law enforcement
to curb supply despite calls to explore other approaches, the report
said.

The news came after Mike Barton, the Chief Constable of Durham,
claimed decriminalisation was the best way to wrestle power away from
criminal gangs.

Writing in The Observer, Mr Barton, the national intelligence leader
for the Association of Chief Police Officers, suggested that the NHS
should supply class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine to addicts.

The BMJ Open study said its data suggested "supply of opiates and
cannabis" had increased.
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MAP posted-by: Matt