Pubdate: Thu, 09 Apr 2009
Source: Annapolis County Spectator; The (CN NS)
Copyright: 2009 Transcontinental Nova Scotia Media Group inc.
Contact:  http://www.novanewsnow.com/rubrique-719-County-of-Annapolis.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4699
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n395/a04.html

WAR ON DRUGS FUELS CRIME, SAYS EXPERT

Dear Editor:

Your April 2 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 heroin, 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 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.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate that 57 per 
cent of AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases 
in the U.S. are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who 
inject drugs. This preventable public health crisis is a direct 
result of zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. 
Can Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization approach of the 
former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated?

U.S. Centers for Disease Control stats: www.cdc.gov

Sincerely,

Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy 
www.csdp.org Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom