Pubdate: Fri, 12 Oct 2007
Source: Peninsula News Review (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Peninsula News Review
Contact:  http://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1373
Author: Nanaimo News Bulletin ( CN BC )

WAR ON DRUGS DOOMED

The conservative minority government in Ottawa is trotting out 
another old policy warhorse that will surely please the party's base 
voter constituency - yet another war on drugs.

Health Minister Tony Clement's latest offensive will entail stiffer 
penalties for drug offenders and more money to stop drugs from 
getting across the border. There will also be a massive campaign to 
warn young people not to use drugs.

What is missing is more funding to provide detox services to help 
those hooked on drugs to get straightened out.

And what's missing is any effort to halt the source of illicit drugs 
in the first place.

Simply running ads that say taking drugs is bad will have little impact.

People from all walks of life, rich and poor, educated and 
illiterate, can succumb to the ravages of drug addiction.

Either address the sources of the illicit drug trade or beef up 
treatment services, but sitting on the fence and doing neither won't 
accomplish very much.
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