First published in print: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 The Drug Policy Alliance lacks credibility and its arguments don't stand the test of reason ("Substance abuse is a health issue," letter, June 5). I have for the last several years questioned this organization and the tenets of its position. I have never received an answer to this fundamental question: What is the treatment for a drug dealer? No one argues that a drug user should receive treatment and not incarceration, not the cops, district attorneys, defense lawyers or medical professionals. The question remains: What do we do with the drug dealers, who are a drug addict's worst enemy, who prey on these afflicted people and often use treatment centers as locations to distribute their product? Yet, the Drug Policy Alliance continues to support drug dealers, often stating that the so-called war on drugs is a failure, because drugs are still being sold. Which begs to ask if we should give up the war on murder, robbery and rape as these crimes are still being committed as well? I would rather call the war on drugs, simply, fighting crime. That's what selling drugs is. Why would a group that allegedly advocates for drug users also advocate for their worst enemy? John Monte Albany The writer is an Albany detective. [end]
Most articles concerning drug crime, along with the opinion of the advocates for the drug dealers, seem to have one common theme: It is the fault of the police or the judicial system that these individuals are incarcerated. Once again we see the removal of personal accountability, we blame everyone except the person committing the act. Street level drug dealing is the primary factor in the violence within our community; this is a fact not opinion. I am a narcotics enforcement officer in Albany and can say I have never targeted anyone because of their sex, race or ethnic background, although I have targeted violent criminals with long criminal histories and watched them released after doing a fraction of their sentence because of a little known loophole called merit release, a back-door program that essentially throws out a judge's sentence and releases felons back into the community to commit further damage. [continues 86 words]
The intent of any penal code is to hold people accountable for their actions, as it is impossible to rid our society of any one particular crime. The argument against the current drug policy is baseless and relies on anecdotal evidence for its foundation. Here are the myths revealed: Myth 1: There is no "drug war." That was a phrase used decades ago to catch a headline. Illegal drugs are a violation of our penal code, which was enacted by our elected Legislature. Is there a war against murder, robbery, burglary, rape and larceny and, if so, are we losing that war also, because these crimes still occur? So is the answer to ignore these crimes as well, hence saving the taxpayers money, or should we hold these criminals accountable? Easy answer on that one, I guess. [continues 198 words]
