Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jul 2016
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Chico Enterprise-Record
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: Jay Bergstrom

NATION'S OPIOID EPIDEMIC CAUSED BY DRUG PROHIBITION

It is not an opiate problem. Neither is it a cannabis, meth, tobacco, 
alcohol, nor addiction problem. It is a prohibition problem. We slog 
ahead, making steady progress on tobacco, milder progress on alcohol. 
Progress is possible because these substances are not treated as 
criminal. Imagine the attendance at AA meetings if alcohol were 
criminal. Legalize it all. Provide truthful education and treatment 
on demand. It would be far less expensive in both dollars and blood. 
The drug prohibition is a hangover from our racist past and should be 
cast off for its immoral roots and proven futility.

- - Jay Bergstrom, Forest Ranch
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom