Pubdate: Fri, 14 Aug 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: N. B. Hershfield
Page: A25

DRUG POLICY IS A MONUMENTAL FAILURE

Re: "We're wallowing and sinking in a sea of drugs," Chris Nelson, 
Opinion, Aug. 13, "Overdoses at Calgary music festival send 17 to 
hospital," Aug. 10, and "Pink heroin laced with fentanyl blamed for 16 
overdoses," Aug. 9.

I practised medicine for over 50 years in this city. The worst
experience I had was caring for patients who were dying from the
effects of drugs.

Especially tragic was having to tell their loved ones that there was
little my colleagues and I could do. The damage was beyond our
capabilities.

We all asked: why do people indulge in these dangerous activities?
Everybody knows these substances are dangerous to physical and mental
health.

Sigmund Freud, who himself was dependent on cocaine and nicotine and
prescribed cocaine, as did most doctors, wrote in Civilization and its
Discontents that "life as we find it is too hard for us, it brings too
many pains, disappointments and impossible tasks."

The devastating effects of narcotics are the third cause of death in
North American hospitals.

Banning them is not the answer.

We are in the midst of an epidemic. The war on drugs is a monumental
failure. It has led to increased crime, political corruption and
tragic collateral damage to innocent people. The current generation is
doomed, as tragic events such as we experienced recently in Calgary
are daily occurrences.

The drug culture affects some of our generation's role models -
athletes, entertainers and even some of our leaders.

The next generation must be educated about the dangers. They must
learn there are many ways to stimulate the pleasure pathway, such as
vigorous exercise, hiking, and even video games.

The current policy is a misguided social experiment by ignorant,
puritanical politicians.

N. B. Hershfield, MD, Calgary
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MAP posted-by: Matt