Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005
Source: Auburn Plainsman, The (Auburn U, AL Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Auburn Plainsman
Contact:  http://www.theplainsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1880
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n660/a03.html?54396

PRISON NO SOLUTION TO DRUG PROBLEMS

Editor, The Auburn Plainsman:

I'm writing about the thoughtful letter from Mett Ausley, "Meth Laws Proven 
Effective," April 21, 2005.

Keeping the ingredients of meth behind the counter of licensed pharmacies 
is certainly a lot better solution than the previous non-solution of 
building more and bigger prisons.

Oklahoma learned the hard way that the so-called "tough on drugs" policies 
don't work and they are very expensive.  Mostly because of their "tough on 
drugs" policies, Oklahoma became the fourth highest state for incarcerations.

Mostly because of our war on drugs policies, the United States has been 
transformed into the most incarcerated nation in the history of human 
civilization.

Even though we in the United States have less than 5 percent of the world's 
population, we have more than 25 percent of the world's prisoners.

In other words, one out of every four prisoners in the world is locked in 
an American jail or prison.

What message does this send to the rest of the world?

Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom