Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 2001
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2001 St. Petersburg Times
Contact:  http://www.sptimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Author: Calvina L. Fay
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n611/a04.html

OUR DRUG PROBLEM IS BOTH A MEDICAL AND CRIMINAL ONE.

Re: Changing attitudes on the drug war, by Neal Peirce, April 2.

Neal Peirce obviously does not get it when it comes to understanding the 
dangers of mind-altering and addictive drugs. His statement that "... 
border fortifications, criminal chases and prosecutions have negligible 
impact on drug addiction... " demonstrates his ignorance about the issue.

We all know that our world is inundated with illegal drugs that are 
contributing to the spread of diseases, crime and moral decay. Can you 
imagine how much worse it would be if we did not take steps to fortify our 
borders and vigorously prosecute the drug dealers and traffickers? In just 
one sweep by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Operation Conquistador), 
2,331 suspected narcotics traffickers were arrested and their drug rings 
were disrupted. This resulted in eradication of coca fields, the 
destruction of 94 cocaine labs and the seizure of 5,000 kilograms of 
cocaine, 56 kilograms of heroin, 14 kilograms of morphine base, 362 metric 
tons of marijuana, 73 kilograms of hashish oil and an array of drug-making 
chemicals.

As a parent and law-abiding citizen, I am happy to know that at least some 
of these dangerous drugs are not making it into our neighborhoods to addict 
and kill our children. As a drug-prevention specialist who has been engaged 
in efforts for close to 20 years to curb drug abuse, I also know that, 
contrary to the picture Peirce painted, we have not lost "the war on 
drugs." Since the 1970s we have reduced overall drug use in this country by 
greater than 50 percent. If we had made this kind of progress in the war 
against AIDS, cancer, high-school dropouts or teenage pregnancies, no one 
would consider those efforts failures. So why do we label our efforts 
against drug abuse as such? Could it be that the mantra "The Drug War is a 
Failure" is a deliberate lie to confuse the public?

Sen. Orrin Hatch's conviction to "shift more government funds toward 
treatment and prevention" is a far cry from a call for drug legalization. 
The last thing in the world successful treatment and prevention needs is 
the legalization of more drugs. Already, our two legal drugs -- alcohol and 
nicotine -- are the most difficult from which to abstain. Have you ever 
wondered why? Imagine being in recovery for alcohol and almost every time 
you go out to eat in a restaurant (with the exception of breakfast), you 
are offered an alcoholic drink. Do we want to set up the same temptations 
of other drugs?

Drugs are a medical and criminal problem. Drugs contribute to irresponsible 
behavior which frequently results in medical problems such as unwanted 
pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, accidents, overdoses and health 
problems such as cancer, liver and lung damage and death. Drugs also 
contribute to criminal behavior such as child and spousal abuse, 
burglaries, rapes, murders and thefts.

As both a medical and criminal problem, drug abuse must be dealt with 
accordingly through a comprehensive approach of prevention, treatment, and 
law enforcement and interdiction.

When Gov. Gary Johnson said he guaranteed "that prison rates will drop" if 
his proposed drug-permissive bills pass in New Mexico, he wasn't just 
blowing smoke. If his bills make drugs legal, of course the prison rates 
will drop, because those who are peddling drugs to our children will no 
longer fill our prison cells. Of course, if we legalize murder, rape and a 
few other crimes, we can really empty out those prisons, can't we?

Calvina L. Fay is executive director, Drug Free America Foundation Inc., 
St. Petersburg
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D