Tracknum: 10905.001401c80f17.30f0a1c0.7e3466cf
Pubdate: Mon, 15 Oct 2007
Source: Varsity, The (CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2007 The Varsity
Contact:  http://www.thevarsity.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2663
Author: Beth Heffernan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

HARPER GETS TOUGH ON DRUGS, SOFT ON LOGIC

New Federal Policy Will Impose Harsh Sentences, But Do Little To Help 
Those Already Addicted

Dan EpsteinSince the Conservatives took offi ce, arrests for drug 
possession have gone up 20 to 50 per cent in major cities.On October 
4, Steven Harper announced a new $64 million antidrug program with an 
approach to drug use that closely resembles the American "war on 
drugs." Given the spectacular failure of the American program, why is 
Harper refusing to learn from the mistakes of our neighbours?

In his latest speech, Harper said that harm reduction for drug 
addicts was not a priority for his government and that "no matter how 
much harm you reduce, if you are a drug addict, you are still going 
to live a short, miserable life." This is a terrible 
oversimplification. Harper assumes that all drug addicts are poor and 
are attempting to seek help. It is hard enough to convince people go 
to needle exchange programs or safe injection sites, let alone to 
rehabilitate them. Some addicts do not even know these places exist. 
This is why increased promotion of safe injection sites, such as 
Vancouver's Insite, HIV testing sites, and health education sites, is 
necessary. Harper needs to spend money on public awareness of these 
incredibly crucial resources, not remove their funding or shut them 
down, both of which are distinct possibilities under his new plan.

Harper promises that someone caught selling even the smallest amount 
of drugs will face harsh penalties. Frankly, doesn't the government 
have better things to devote tens of millions of dollars to than 
chasing around people dealing a few grams of marijuana? Wait a 
minute: five years ago, wasn't there widespread support for 
legalizing marijuana?

What does Harper plan to do for people with addictions that extend 
beyond existing structures like the Centre for Addiction and Mental 
Health? The safe drug injection site in Vancouver has proven to be an 
excellent method of dealing with the city's drug problem. Providing 
willing addicts with health information and illness testing, Insite 
is a prime example of what the country's drug program should look 
like. Needle exchanges and other such programs are also reaching 
ahead and providing the country's addicts with a proper, healthy way 
to do drugs, accompanied by information urging them to stop.

You cannot penalize people into not doing drugs, Mr. Harper. Experts 
will tell you your proposed method is fl awed. What should be 
happening is the implementation of more safe injection sites and more 
needle exchanges. These sites may be taboo, but so was condom 
distribution to the public when that practice was first started. 
Clean syringes don't encourage drug use, they just make drug use 
safe. They save lives.

I'm not suggesting putting needles in every public place, but an 
increased availability and knowledge of their whereabouts would 
definitely be an improvement, especially in parts of the country 
where drug use is known to be high. Without harm reduction and more 
education, the country's drug problem will spin out of control, and 
no amount of money will save it.