Pubdate: December, 1998  Volume 30 Issue 12 
Source:  The Washington Monthly (DC)
Section: Letters to the Editor - Page 2
Copyright: 1998  by The Washington Monthly
Contact:  1611 Conneticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 2009
Website: http://washingtonmonthly.com/
Forum: http://washingtonmonthly.com/forum/index.html
Author: Redford Givens

THE SWISS FIX

Joseph A. Califano, Jr.'s explanation of the cause of "drug crime" neglects
the historic fact that addicts were not robbing, whoring, and murdering
over drugs when they could buy all the heroin, cocaine, morphine, opium,
and any other drug they wanted cheaply and legally at the corner drug
store. The criminal activity Califano blames on drug abuse didn't begin
until a after the drug law went on the books.

The reason addicts steal to buy drugs is because prohibitionists like
Califano have sustained and promoted a criminal black market that increases
drug prices 20 fold over their free market prices.

That drug prohibition is the direct source of "drug crimes' is demonstrated
by the Swiss Heroin Maintenance Program, where addicts were supplied with
cheap pure heroin. Within six months, participation in criminal activity
among the patient group dropped over 60 percent and eventually declined
more than 90 per-cent. Being able to get cheap or free heroin eliminated
the need to steal and to obtain drugs, and permanent employment more than
doubled.

When the Swiss added up the costs, they were pleased to find that the
heroin maintenance program saved them over $70 (U.S.) per patient in
reduced police, prison, and health costs. The Swiss are so pleased with the
reductions in property crime and money savings that they made heroin
distribution a national policy.

Alcohol is the only drug known to cause violence and crime as a direct
result of its effects. Indeed, alcohol abuse is responsible for a hundred
times more crime and violence than the rest of intoxicating drugs put
together.

Strangely Califano never suggests prohibiting alcohol, which is far more
dangerous than drugs. Could it be because "Smoking Joe" knows about the
disaster the alcohol ban brought? If prohibition didn't work for alcohol,
what makes Califano think drug prohibition can ever work? 

Redford Givens
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Checked-by: Richard Lake