LOSING THE 'WAR'

Editor:

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has shown that
74 percent of Americans believe the current U.S. drug policy of
arrest, incarceration and interdiction is not working. We believe the
use of force to treat a health problem is not the right thing to do.

Basing "drug policy" on the actions of the worst abusers, those who
harm others, is like basing our "fast food" policy on a 600 hundred
pound person. Only drug dealers, criminals and corrupt government
officials thrive in a prohibition society. Who loses? The American
people do. Have we already forgotten the devastating effects of
alcohol prohibition to this country?

Here on the Big Island, we have a similar situation with the
prohibited substance "ice." After 30 years of increasingly severe
criminal penalties and hundreds of billions of dollars spent on this
"war," the "drug problem" is as bad as ever.

We don't need statistics to see the worsening signs every day. Why
has the drug problem only gotten out of control recently? Could it be
the lure of the $700 billion Americans spend on illegal drugs that
end up in these criminal dealer's hands yearly?

If all drugs were legalized today, wouldn't every single drug dealer
be out of business tomorrow? And isn't that what we really want? To
reduce the harm caused by the abuse of drugs, including tobacco and
alcohol? To protect our children from unnecessary exposure to these
harmful substances, rather then sending them out among these
predators that we allow to profit by getting our kids hooked on drugs?

What about creating an environment where people who want to break
their drug addiction can receive treatment - without having to get
arrested first? Now if we can only convince the people in charge.

Quinn C. Hoyer
Kona, HI