Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jun 2000
Source: Florida Times-Union (FL)
Copyright: The Florida Times-Union 2000
Contact:  http://www.times-union.com/
Forum: http://cafe.jacksonville.com/cafesociety.html
Author: Carolyn Abell
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n771/a02.html

Drugs

AN ADDICT IS STILL AN ADDICT

A letter writer recently alleged that children now have access to guns 
because "law-abiding citizens are buying guns to protect themselves" from 
gang warfare and other criminal activity resulting from drug addicts' 
attempts to purchase illegal drugs.

The letter writer then suggested that, to reduce this criminal activity and 
reduce the number of inmates we have to support in the prisons, the 
government provide free prescriptions for addicts (presumably free 
marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.).

He said that legalizing the dispensing of these currently "illegal" drugs 
will eliminate the associated murders, extortion and other criminal acts 
currently associated with the illegal drug trade.

One thing the writer failed to recognize is that the addict will still be 
an addict. This addict will continue to perform under the influence of a 
mind-altering substance, which will make him a menace to society.

Giving free prescriptions of these substances will not only fail to stop 
the traffic accidents, assaults, suicides, rapes and murders committed 
"under the influence," but they would actually open the door for defense 
lawyers to claim government liability for these crimes, since the 
government provided the means (free drugs).

Carolyn Abell, senior planner, Jacksonville
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