Pubdate: Sat, 27 May 2017
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2017 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://thestarphoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Ken Sailor
Page: A8

NO NEED FOR DEATHS BY DRUG OVERDOES

"'It's a try-and-die drug': Fentanyl is suspected in weekend overdose
death" (SP, May 9) documents our cruel and ineffective drug policy.

Overdose deaths are completely avoidable, as is the spread of AIDS and
hepatitis C through drug use. These problems are caused by prohibition
of drugs, not the drugs themselves.

Drug policies other than prohibition have been tried, studied, and
shown to have great success, if success means fewer addicts and far
less crime and corruption.

When prescription heroin was provided in Manchester, England, crime
fell in some neighbourhoods by 80 per cent.

Overdose deaths went to zero: users had known dosages of
pharmaceutical quality heroin delivered by clean needles.

We may be startled, but drug use is less frequent where drugs are
legally available.

Social disapproval is more powerful than government
prohibition.

You can read this information in books like Drug Crazy by John Gray,
or Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari.

You can also go right to the research: treating drugs as a medical
problem works.

We cannot banish drugs. Learning to live with them will save lives and
improve many others.

Ken Sailor, Saskatoon
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MAP posted-by: Matt