LEGALIZING DRUGS ISN'T THE ANSWER

Editor:

Dr. Richard Mathias, as reported recently in The Richmond Review, suggests
legalizing, then regulating, drugs is the logical public health approach to
substance abuse in Richmond and elsewhere. I strongly disagree.

Drugs are neither healthy nor desirable. The government legalizing and
selling them is absurd. Our civic and moral duty is to reduce, not increase,
the number of drug users.

These require strong supply and demand reduction measures, not giving in to
the unsubstantiated notion that drug laws, not drug use, are the problem. In
fact, supply reduction and demand reduction form the two key pillars of
Canada's Drug Strategy.

The two key factors determining the level of drug use in society are
accessibility and social acceptance of substances. Legalization or
liberalizing drug laws would increase both drug acceptance and
accessibility. It would send the wrong message to young people.

Alcohol and tobacco both provide examples of substances that are legal and
regulated. Consumption of both fairly well matches their accessibility and
acceptance. They cost Canada billions annually in both lives and dollars,
much more that do illicit drugs.

Do we want/need more substances to enjoy our mark of approval? Increasing
the availability or accessibility of drugs is not in the interest of the
addicted population, and is certainly not in the interest of the public. A
strong program to reduce social acceptance and the desire or need to use
drugs, and to provide effective and adequate treatment to those who are
addicted has always been and remains what we need.

Though wrapped in a cloak of tolerance, legalizing drugs lacks hope,
creativity, wisdom, and compassion.

Dr. Colin Mangham Director,
Prevention Source BC