Pubdate: Fri, 20 Oct 2000
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2000, The Bakersfield Californian.
Contact:  PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440
Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/
Author: John Tarjan
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1470/a10.html

WE ARE LOSING 'DRUG WAR'

I am writing in response to the recent Community Voices piece by Sheriff 
Carl Sparks. The title of the piece was very misleading in that it implied 
that the Sheriff's Department was somehow keeping Kern County "drug free." 
Evidence is almost all to the contrary. We have become known as a 
methamphetamine production capital. The foothills and mountains harbor 
numerous marijuana patches. Illegal and prescription drugs are readily 
available for sale to anyone in almost every corner of the county.

The reason I write is that the assumption that we are somehow winning the 
war on drugs in this country has resulted in disastrous public policy. 
Until we, as a citizenry, recognize that the current strategies of 
enforcement, interdiction and incarceration are both ineffective and wildly 
inefficient, we will not seriously consider changing to other, potentially 
more effective strategies.

Until we dramatically decrease the demand for drugs via significantly 
increased efforts in education and treatment, we will not make progress in 
this war. And one Vietnam per generation is enough for me.

John Tarjan, Bakersfield
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D