Pubdate: Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Source: New York Times (NY)
Page: D4
Copyright: 2009 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n000/a204.html
Author: Norm Stamper

DRUGS, RECONSIDERED

To the Editor:

Re "Addiction on 2 Fronts: Work and Home" (Scientist at Work, Dec. 
8): A. Thomas McLellan, the new deputy drug czar, won't be able to 
shift the government's focus to effective strategies like treatment 
and prevention until we stop wasting so many of our limited resources 
on arresting people for drug offenses.

Currently, there is a drug arrest every 18 seconds in this country.

As a former Seattle police chief who has seen the ravages of both 
drug abuse and drug policies, I hope federal officials will think 
about how many more resources we could pour into treatment if we 
regulated drugs and stopped putting handcuffs on people for what Dr. 
McLellan readily acknowledges is a medical issue.

Norm Stamper

Eastsound, Wash.
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