Pubdate: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 Source: Contra Costa Times (CA) Copyright: 2010 Steven Yuen Contact: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/96 Author: Steven Yuen COSTLY DRUG WAR The price of the American drug war this year is nearing $40 billion. Our prisons are full of non-violent drug offenders, and violence along the Mexican-U.S. border is constant. One might think the only victims of the drug war are drug users and criminals, although this is not necessarily the case. In Mexico, there have been an estimated 28,000 deaths since Felipe Calderon has taken office and pledged to fight drug criminals. On the other end of the spectrum, Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001. Instead of jail, offenders were offered treatment as long as the amount of drugs was for personal use. Five years later, drug use actually declined, the number of people seeking recovery doubled, and the number of HIV infections decreased. Prohibition didn't work with alcohol, and Al Capone benefitted enormously from it until it was legalized and sent him toppling soon after. Are we going to continue promoting violence and needless arrests to stay true to morals, or are we able to admit that there are better things to worry about? Steven Yuen Lafayette - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D