Pubdate: Wed, 07 Mar 2007 Source: Peterborough Examiner, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2616 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n259/a05.html?322990 WAR ON DRUGS FUELS CRIME Re "Crime rate up; What it all means" (Editorial, Feb. 28) - Your editorial made the common mistake of confusing drug-related crime with prohibition-related crime. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like crack cocaine, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. The good news is that Canada has already adopted many of the common sense harm reduction interventions first pioneered in Europe. The bad news is that Canada's southern neighbor continues to use its superpower status to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe. The United States provides tragic examples of anti-drug strategies that are best avoided. ROBERT SHARPE Policy analyst - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom