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THE SWISS FIX

Joseph A.  Califano, Jr.'s explanation of the cause of "drug crime" neglects the historic fact that addicts were not robbing, whoring, and murdering over drugs when they could buy all the heroin, cocaine, morphine, opium, and any other drug they wanted cheaply and legally at the corner drug store.  The criminal activity Califano blames on drug abuse didn't begin until a after the drug law went on the books.

The reason addicts steal to buy drugs is because prohibitionists like Califano have sustained and promoted a criminal black market that increases drug prices 20 fold over their free market prices.

That drug prohibition is the direct source of "drug crimes' is demonstrated by the Swiss Heroin Maintenance Program, where addicts were supplied with cheap pure heroin.  Within six months, participation in criminal activity among the patient group dropped over 60 percent and eventually declined more than 90 per-cent.  Being able to get cheap or free heroin eliminated the need to steal and to obtain drugs, and permanent employment more than doubled.

When the Swiss added up the costs, they were pleased to find that the heroin maintenance program saved them over $70 ( U.S.  ) per patient in reduced police, prison, and health costs.  The Swiss are so pleased with the reductions in property crime and money savings that they made heroin distribution a national policy.

Alcohol is the only drug known to cause violence and crime as a direct result of its effects.  Indeed, alcohol abuse is responsible for a hundred times more crime and violence than the rest of intoxicating drugs put together.

Strangely Califano never suggests prohibiting alcohol, which is far more dangerous than drugs.  Could it be because "Smoking Joe" knows about the disaster the alcohol ban brought? If prohibition didn't work for alcohol, what makes Califano think drug prohibition can ever work?

Redford Givens