Pubdate: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2013 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Mark Monson LESS WAR, MORE TREATMENT IS SMART It makes sense to put more resources into drug rehabilitation and education and less into interdiction. Somehow John P. Walters makes the wrong connection between cocaine production and cocaine overdoses and deaths ("Obama Signals Retreat in the War on Drugs," op-ed, July 29). He criticizes the Obama administration for cutting money for international drug control and increasing funding for education and treatment. The drop in overdoses is due to the continuing drop in cocaine use. If it was caused by a shortage due to production cuts, there would be an increase in price. This has not happened. Why the decrease in use? I would guess the rapid increase in on-the-job drug testing has had the biggest effect. The administration's plan to expand treatment and education will lower demand, production, street prices and overdoses. The waiting lists for treatment are long. Let's move the money from the supply end, which we never have been able to control, to the demand end. It's both the smart and humanitarian thing to do. Mark Monson Coumbiaville, Mich - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom