Pubdate: Thu, 7 Jan 2010
Source: Huffington Post (US Web)
Copyright: 2010 HuffingtonPost com, Inc.
Website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Author: Norm Stamper, Retired Seattle police chief, member of Law 
Enforcement Against Prohibition
Referenced: The pamphlet http://drugsense.org/flyers/10_tips_for_safer_use.pdf
Referenced: The New York Post article 'Heroin For Dummies' 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10.n011.a05.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)

THE DEADLY IGNORANCE OF "DRUG WARRIORS"

The New York Post last weekend ran an article entitled "Heroin for 
Dummies." It's a reference to the 16-page pamphlet, "Take Charge Take 
Care," published (two years ago) by the New York City health 
department. The pamphlet's purpose in reaching out to heroin addicts 
is to save lives and prevent disease. But you'd think, judging from 
the panic-stricken, patently ignorant statements of New York's drug 
warriors, that the city's real agenda is to put heroin in baby formula.

With it's cutesy subtitle, "City flier 'smacks' of lunacy," and its 
opening sentence, "Here's the latest smack on taxpayers," the piece 
could have been written in 1930 by the nation's first Commissioner of 
the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Henry "Reefer Madness" Anslinger.

But there's no humor in hysteria and that's precisely what DEA's John 
Gilbride, the city's own "drug czar," Bridget Brennan and the city 
council's chair of public safety Peter Vallone (D-Queens) are peddling.

"To suggest there is a method of using [heroin] that alleviates the 
dangers, that's very disturbing," said Gilbride.

"No matter how many times or how clean the needle is, it's still 
poison that you're putting in your veins," said Brennan.

"It's sick," said Vallone. He went on to describe the pamphlet as a 
"tremendous misuse of city funds," and pledged to do what he could to 
end it. "It sends a message to our youth: give it a try."

Oh, please.

I have no doubt these public officials mean well but they've 
obviously not done their homework. And their ignorance, should it 
result in influencing a reversal of this splendid program will cost 
lives. Guaranteed.

A person addicted to heroin needs the drug as much as a diabetic 
needs insulin. How he or she gets it is problematic, a function of 
our spectacularly failed policy of prohibition. But get he or she 
will get it, and use it. How it's administered means the difference 
between life and death.

I spent a good deal of time with heroin addicts in six Australian 
cities on a recent trip there. I visited a supervised injection site 
in Sydney, clean needle and syringe programs throughout the country, 
a "one stop" methadone treatment clinic. I listened to testimonials, 
saw firsthand some of the results of the impressive harm reduction 
efforts I'd been reading about not just in Australia but in 
Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Vancouver, B.C., the 
Netherlands. And New York City.

Down Under, I heard from addicts who, because they were taught how to 
effectively and hygienically administer the drug (in part through 
pamphlets virtually identical to New York's), are now living safer 
and healthier lives. Which is to say, they've learned how to reduce 
the risk of collapsed veins, pus-filled abscesses, and deadly 
blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis.

Those addicted are still at risk, of course. And so is the broader 
community. Ideally, we would legalize, tax, regulate and control 
heroin and all other drugs. And use a substantial portion of the 
substantial revenues generated thereby to fund prevention and treatment.

But until we find the will and the wisdom to do that, outreach 
programs such as New York's will continue, beyond any doubt, to 
alleviate suffering. And save lives.

By the way, Mr. Vallone, any kid who picks up one of those bright 
yellow pamphlets is most unlikely, by reading it, to be drawn to 
heroin. "Take Charge Take Care" reflects implicitly on the misery and 
heartache that characterizes the lives of many of the people the Post 
has chosen to ridicule and dehumanize.

New Yorkers must not let these modern Anslingers rule the day. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake