Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2001
Source: Charlotte Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2001 The Charlotte Observer
Contact:  http://www.charlotte.com/observer/
Author: H. Preston Metheney

POLICE OVERREACHING ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

In response to "Why police want prescription drug data" (March 16 For the 
Record):

I find Chief Darrel W. Stephens' case limp, to say the least. The bottom 
line is this: Police want the power to inspect at will - without a search 
warrant - any and all prescription drug records of any citizen in North 
Carolina.

It doesn't matter how the chief spins it, the result is the loss of 
prescription privacy for all North Carolinians. Chief Stephens benignly 
argues that his people "don't have time to go on `fishing expeditions'" and 
that in the "overwhelming majority" of cases they request information on 
only controlled substances. This revelation doesn't make me feel 
particularly warm and fuzzy.

Politicians are so afraid to appear soft on drugs that they will support 
almost any drug law regardless of how it affects our privacy or individual 
liberties. If you open up the possibility for abuse, there will be abuse. 
It's plain and simple.

H. PRESTON METHENEY

Charlotte
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